"Watercolors" by THE WATERS - August 1980 Third US Album on Arista Records featuring Julia, Luther, Maxine and Oren Waters (August 2014 UK Big Break Records (BBR) Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

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"...It's Flowing Around Me..."

 

Hailing out of Los Angeles – the family of Oren, Julia, Luther and Maxine Waters (Oren is the lead) are the great unknowns of backing vocals.

 

Statistics would have you believe they've been heard by more souls on the planet than any other set of voices. How? They're the backing singers on Carole King's "Tapestry" in 1971, The Bee Gee's "Saturday Night Fever" in 1977 and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in 1982 - to name but a famous few.

 

Before that there was sessions with Phil Spector on the most played record ever - "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers and onwards into the Seventies with artists as diverse as Pacific, Gas & Electric and Merry Clayton. Since then there's been Bobby Womack, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Patti LaBelle, Adele, Rod Stewart and even Bruce Springsteen. Which brings us to this release…and its pre-history.

 

They started their own American career in 1975 simply as WATERS – their self-titled debut on Blue Note Records BN-LA370-G. Then in 1977 went as THE WATERS for another self-titled start on Warner Brothers BS 3062. Which brings us to album-door number three - "Watercolors" with Producer David Rubinson on Arista AB-4253 in May 1980. The singing family foursome is now literally the subject of an Oscar-nominated movie - "Twenty Feet From Stardom" – hence the timely reissue on Big Break Records of the UK. Here are the details...

 

1. Dance With Me [Side 1]

2. Heart Lead The Way

3. I Can Make You Smile

4. Throw A Little Bit Of Love My Way

5. Party People [Side 2]

6. Come To Me

7. Dance The Night Away

8. Let Him Prove It

 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Dance With Me (Single Version)

10. Heart Lead The Way (Single Version)

 

As none of their LPs had British releases, oversees fans in Blighty will dig this release. UK issued August 2014 "Watercolors" by THE WATERS on Big Break Records CDBBR 0277 (Barcode 5013929057739) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with two Bonus Tracks (50:10 minutes).

 

Tracks 1 to 8 are the May 1980 album with two bonus cuts added on – the March 1980 single mix of "Dance With Me" (Arista AS-0493) and the promo-only May 1980 single mix of "Heart Lead The Way" (Arista AS-0517). The 12-page booklet has wonderfully detailed liner notes by NYC-based writer and music journalist Christian John Wikane and a fabulous remaster by BBR's resident tape maestro Wayne A, Dickson.

 

It's a typically mixed bag as Soul albums go – it opens with the half-hearted "Dance With Me" – a search for a Disco hit – but things improve out of all proportion with the album's true nugget – "Heart Lead The Way" – a really gorgeous falsetto vocal ballad (lyrics above). The album version stretches to 5:47 minutes and features sublime note-topping by Oren with the 3 siblings backing him to perfection (nice Bass too by Robert Russell and Sax solo by Don Myrick). Hardly surprising it was the second single off the album – although it appears to have been issued only a promo because I have never seen a stock copy. Things get all pop with "Party People" - but again their strength lies in the ballad – "Come To Me" and "Throw A Little Love My Way" being sweet examples.

 

"Watercolors" is so typical of Soul, Funk, Disco and RnB LPs of the Eighties - a good album rather than a great one bolstered up with the obvious single sides to draw in punters. But with little promotion outside of the singles by either the label or the band (The Waters were touring and working with Neil Diamond on "The Jazz Singer" in 1980, a huge record) – it tanked and is something of a unfairly forgotten artifact now.

 

But "Watercolors" has those superb ballads on it and a warm-as-a-blanket remaster. Very nice – and I urge you to see the film as soon as possible…

 

Other 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)

"All The Faces Of Buddy Miles" by BUDDY MILES feat Johnny Bristol (April 2012 Big Break Records BBR Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Giovanni Scatola Remaster) - 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 

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"...Wants And Needs That True Love Demands..."

After his 6-album tour with Mercury Records (I own "Expressway To Your Skull" from 1968 and have reviewed "Them Changes" from 1970) - ex Electric Flag, Band Of Gypsys drummer and singer Buddy Miles signed to Columbia Records and produced this forgotten Disco/Soul album with Johnny Bristol.

UK released in April 2012 - "All The Faces Of Buddy Miles" by BUDDY MILES on Big Break Records CDBBR 0123 (Barcode 5013929042339) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with One Bonus Track that plays out as follows (39:20 minutes):

1. Pull Yourself Together [Side 1]

2. We Got Love

3. All The Faces

4. I'm Just A Kiss Away

5. It's Only The Good Times

6. Got To Find Ms. Right [Side 2]

7. Pain

8. Kiss And Run

9. Wants And Needs (The Earth Song)

10. Baby Don't Stop (Sit On The Rock)

Tracks 1 to 10 are his seventh album "All The Faces Of Buddy Miles" - released November 1974 in the USA on Columbia KC 33089 and November 1974 in the UK on Epic EPC 80349.

BONUS TRACK:

11. Pull Yourself Together (Single Version)

All the usual classy elements associated by now with BBR are here - a great 16-page booklet with informative liner notes by JUSTIN COBER-LAKE filling in the details on the ex Electric Flag drummer's new career as a Soul and Disco dude - and a top notch remaster by GIOVANNI SCATOLA.

Putting aside the fact that Miles never had the greatest of voices - his at-times strangulated efforts on "All The Faces Of..." sound like someone desperately trying for commercial success with Soft Soul and Disco leanings. The results are workmanlike and never really inspired. You get cheesy lyrics ("I'm Just A Kiss Away") and strained vocals ruining a good song ("It's Only The Good Times"). The smoocher "Pain" is very pretty - but again his lack of singing chops/passion does nothing for it. But "Pull Yourself Together" is a great dancer and an obvious leadoff single - while the message Soul of "Wants And Needs (The Earth Song)" with its wah-wah guitar and strings features a catchier melody and lovely brass punching through (lyrics above).

"Wants And Needs" has been a huge underground club tune in London for years. The funkier tunes stand up well too - "Got To Find Ms. Right" has a kind of "Hercules" by The Meters vibe - but the absolute bomb for me is "Baby Don't Stop (Sit On The Rock)" - a fantastically funky four and half-minute instrumental (now with stunning sound quality). I love it to bits and have been after it for years in top remastered audio.

It's a personal thing - but for me this album is good rather than great. Trouble is - I had to have that 'Sit On The Rock' funky instrumental and after hearing it - so will you...

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)

"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...

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 
Exceptional CD Reissues and 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)

"...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...

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)

"...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)