"Hang On In There Baby" by JOHNNY BRISTOL (2016 Universal Spain/MGM/Elemental Music CD Remaster in Gatefold Card Repro Artwork with Inner Sleeve) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Wisdom Should Be Free..."

One of the albums in this rather excellent series of CD reissues from Elemental Music is David Ruffin's debut from March 1969 "My Whole World Ended". I mention this because like so many great (unsung hero) songwriters of the day - Johnny Bristol was all over it - co-penning six of the 12 songs on a number 1 US R&B LP for The Temptations' Lead Singer. He'd also penned tunes for Kiki Dee, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Supremes and The Marvelettes to name but a few.

Here it's five years later and the landscape has moved into Disco, Funk, Jazz Funk and Fusion with a smidge of Soul still in there somewhere. The massive single "Hang On In There Baby" hit in July 1974 (MGM 14715) and went to No. 2 on the US R&B charts - even gaining a No. 3 slot in Blighty with the album following chart-suit in October - a rare thing in England in 1974. It's an LP that's remembered with great affection to this day - and that's where this superb new 2016 CD Remaster comes in...

Part of a European Reissue Series from Universal Spain distributed in the UK by Elemental Music – Elemental are a reissue label specialising in Disco, Soul, Funk and Fusion LP titles that are long out of print on both vinyl and CD. With access to the vast back-catalogue of Universal - you get mainly US rarities and obscure albums originally on Polydor, Chess, Cadet, People, Mercury, Capitol Records and of course the huge Motown repertoire including Rare Earth, Soul, Tamla and Gordy (see list below). They’ve been releasing titles steadily since November 2015 and into 2016...

Each CD Reissue is housed in a gatefold LP replica card sleeve with an Inner (a limited edition). It doesn't say anywhere on their glossy packaging (inners or CDs) who or even where these were transferred or remastered despite the claims of such on the stickers on the outer shrink-wrap. Having said that the repro sleeves are accurate - tactile to touch - all coming with a gatefold artwork when most of their original album covers were single sleeves - and best of all have superb Audio care of Universal UMC. If was to hazard a Remaster Engineer guess - it sounds like the work of Gary Moore or Kevin Reeves - both of whom have handled huge numbers of these genre albums for Universal in their extensive 200+ 'Originals' Series. Here are the details...

Europe/UK released November 2016 (June 2016 in the USA) - "Hang On In There Baby" by JOHNNY BRISTOL on Universal Spain/MGM Records/Elemental Music 88518 (Barcode 8435395501153) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 1974 10-track LP originally on MGM Records and plays out as follows (35:25 minutes):

1. Woman, Woman

2. Hang On In There Baby

3. Reachin' Out For Your Love

4. You And I

5. Take Care Of You For Me

6. I Got Your Number [Side 2]

7. It Don't Hurt No More

8. Memories Don't Leave Like People Do

9. Love Me For A Reason

10. Woman, Woman (Reprise)

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut LP "Hang On In There Baby" - released August 1969 in the USA on MGM Records M3G 4959 and September 1974 in the UK on MGM Records 2315 303. Arranged by H.B. BARNUM and Produced by JOHNNY BRISTOL - it peaked at No. 7 in the USA on the R&B charts and No 12 in the UK on the Pop Charts.

The glossy black and white inner gatefold provides the lyrics to the whole album for the first time while the inner sleeve has a photo of JB on one side and the track details, musician credits and other discography info on the other (see photos attached). The CD label is MGM Records in Stereo and the Remastered Audio is beautifully clear even though there are no RM credits.

The albums opens with an out-and-out booty-wiggling emancipation winner - "Woman, Woman" – a groove that feels like the New Orleans Funk of Allen Toussaint crossed with the wah-wah guitar of Isaac Hayes and the string section of Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. It's immediately followed by 'that sweet moment of surrender' song that swept dancefloors all over the world "Hang On In There Baby" – Johnny assuring listeners everywhere that there's 'true love between us' and he doesn't just want to get into the flares of the lady on the grass verge (front cover photo). Next up is the obligatory talking-lurve song "Reachin' Out For Your Love" where our Johnny wants his baby to touch him (no problem - I'll get right on it). It's a great smoocher with keyboards, backing singers and strings all working the emotional impact. After the slow set slow down - it's back to funky-funky with the superb slink of "You And I" - and when you hear its 'whole lot of fun' upbeat feel (so similar to the sound of the title track) - it’s hardly surprising that MGM chose it as the second 45 to give the album more legs. Released August 1974 it was coupled with Side 2's "It Don't Hurt No More" and they were rewarded with a No. 20 R&B chart position and a 17-week stay for the LP.

"Taking Care Of You For Me" is probably the sappiest melody on the album and like "Love Me For A Reason" is Osmonds territory. Far better is the 'uh baby' Funk of "I Got Your Number" which opens Side 2 with a wallop. "It Don't Hurt No More" is a 'when love is gone' smoocher - a lovely melody that would have made a very cool A-side too. "Memories Don't Leave Like People Do" is a sexy high-hat groove with strings - the kind of song Barry White would have made a hit of. "Love Me For A Reason" is poisoned for me by the like of The Osmonds and Boyzone who made massive UK hits of it 20-years apart - a No. 1 for The Osmonds in 1974 and a No. 2 for Boyzone in 1994 (I dare say Johnny's bank manager wasn't complaining). It ends on 45 seconds of "Woman, Woman" in a Funky Reprise...restoring the faith...

Johnny Bristol's "Hang On In There Baby" is the kind of album that simply couldn't be made in 2017 - that hybrid of Seventies Soft Soul and Disco and Funk that's just so damn good on the ear and easy on the couch. This cool little CD Reissue has done that forgotten nugget a solid. Fans should dig in pronto and the curious check out the songwriting schmooze of Carolina's Johnny Bristol...yeah baby...

Titles in the 2015/2016 'Universal/Elemental Music' CD Reissue Series

1. Hang On In There Baby (1974 LP on MGM Records) - JOHNNY BRISTOL (Universal/Elemental 88518 - 8435395501153)

2. The Original Disco Man (1979 LP on Polydor) - JAMES BROWN (Universal/Elemental 88523 – Barcode 8435395501450)

3. Music To Make Love By (1975 LP on Chess) - SOLOMON BURKE (Universal/Elemental 88528 – Barcode 8435395501627)

4. Hot On The Tracks (1976 LP on Motown) – THE COMMODORES (Universal/Elemental 88511 – Barcode 8435395500965)

5. Breakin' Bread (1974 LP on People) – FRED (WESLEY) & THE NEW JB’S (Universal/Elemental 88522 – Barcode 8435395501252)

6. Doing It To Death (1973 LP on People) - THE JB'S [with James Brown] (Universal/Elemental 88517 – Barcode 8435395501146)

7. People...Hold On (1972 LP on Tamla) – EDDIE KENDRICKS (Universal/Elemental 88501 – Barcode 8435395500569)

8. Mother Nature's Son (1968 Stereo LP on Cadet, Charles Stepney Production) – RAMSEY LEWIS (Universal/Elemental 88504 – Barcode 8435395500590)

9. Them Changes (1970 LP on Cadet) - RAMSEY LEWIS (Universal/Elemental 88516 – Barcode 8435395501139)

10. Fire (1974 LP on Mercury) - THE OHIO PLAYERS (Universal/Elemental 88506 – Barcode 8435395500973)

11. Skin Tight (1974 LP on Mercury with 1 Bonus Track) - THE OHIO PLAYERS (Universal/Elemental 88510 – Barcode 8435395500958)

12. Get Ready (1969 LP on Rare Earth) – RARE EARTH (Universal/Elemental 88505 – Barcode 8435395500866)

13. Soulin' (1966 Stereo LP on Capitol) - LOU RAWLS (Universal/Elemental 88515 - 8435395501122)

14. Smokey (1973 LP on Tamla) – SMOKEY ROBINSON (Universal/Elemental 88503 – Barcode 8435395500583)

15. My Whole World Ended (1969 Stereo LP on Motown) - DAVID RUFFIN (Universal/Elemental 88527 – Barcode 8435395501542)

16. The Groove Governor (1970 LP on Soul) – JIMMY RUFFIN (Universal/Elemental 88513 – Barcode 8435395501108)

17. Still Waters Run Deep (1970 LP on Tamla) – THE TEMPTATIONS (Universal 88502 – Barcode 8435395500576)

18. Face To Face With... (1971 LP on Gordy) – THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (Universal/Elemental 88509 – Barcode 8435395500941)

19. Together Brothers O.S.T. (1974 2LPs on 20th Century, Single CD) – BARRY WHITE and THE LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA (Universal/Elemental 88507 – Barcode 8435395500880)

"My Whole World Ended" by DAVID RUFFIN [feat Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua and The Funk Brothers] (2016 Universal Spain/Motown/Elemental Music 'Stereo' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Saw My Flower Child..."

When DAVID RUFFIN stepped out of the shadows and up to his debut solo LP (Lead Vocalist with The Temptations) – he enlisted some of Motown's most gifted writers and produced a classic Soul LP that raced to the coveted No. 1 spot on the US R&B charts in 1969. And God does it still stand up - both as a great example of quality Sixties Motown Soul but as a wet dream for Northern Soul dancers gagging to flick talcum powder on the kitchen Lino. Which brings us to this superb reissue...

This 2016 CD Remaster is part of a European Reissue Series from Universal Spain distributed in the UK by Elemental Music – a reissue label specialising in Disco, Soul, Funk and Fusion LP titles that are long out of print on both vinyl and CD. With access to the vast back-catalogue of Universal - you get mainly US rarities and obscure albums originally on Polydor, Chess, Cadet, People, Mercury, Capitol Records and of course the huge Motown repertoire including Rare Earth, Soul, Tamla and Gordy (see list below). They’ve been releasing titles steadily since November 2015 and into 2016...

Each CD Reissue is housed in a gatefold LP replica card sleeve with an Inner (a limited edition). It doesn't say anywhere on their glossy packaging (inners or CDs) who or even where these were transferred or remastered despite the claims of such on the stickers on the outer shrink-wrap. Having said that the repro sleeves are accurate - tactile to touch - all coming with a gatefold artwork when most of their original album covers were single sleeves - and best of all have superb Audio care of Universal UMC. If was to hazard a Remaster Engineer guess - it sounds like the work of Gary Moore or Kevin Reeves - both of whom have handled huge numbers of these genre albums for Universal in their extensive 200+ 'Originals' Series. Here are the details...

UK/Europe released November 2016 - "My Whole World Ended" by DAVID RUFFIN on Universal Spain/Motown/Elemental Music 88527 (Barcode 8435395501542) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 1969 12-track STEREO LP originally on Motown Records and plays out as follows (minutes):

1. My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)

2. Pieces Of A Man

3. Somebody Stole My Dream

4. I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved

5. Everlasting Love

6. I've Got To Find Myself A Brand New Baby

7. The Double Cross [Side 2]

8. Message From Maria

9. World Of Darkness 

10. We'll Have A Good Thing Going On

11. My Love Is Growing Stronger

12. Flower Child

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut LP "My Whole World Ended" - released May 1969 in the USA on Motown MS685 (Stereo) and September 1969 in the UK on Tamla Motown TML 11118 (Mono) and Tamla Motown STML 11118 (Stereo) – the STEREO mix is used for this CD Remaster. Arranged and Produced by HARVEY FUQUA and JOHNNY BRISTOL - it peaked at No. 1 in the USA on the R&B charts (No. 31 on the Pop). David Ruffin - Lead Vocals and Piano - Backing Singers are The Originals (Freddie Gorman, Walter Gaines, Hank Dixon and C.P. Spencer) with Female backing Singers - The Andantes - Rhythm Section by The Funk Brothers  

The glossy black and white inner gatefold starts the lyrics at Song 1 and ends on Song 8 only to continue on one-side of the inner sleeve for Songs 9 to 12 (the flipside of the inner has track details, musician credits and other discography info - see photos attached). The CD label is Motown Stereo and the Remastered Audio is beautifully clear – sounding a lot like the versions done by KEVIN REEVES for the 2005 Hip-O Select sets out of the USA - in fact the annotation is almost identical. With those 5000-only Hip-O Select sets now costing silly money - this is s welcome reissue...

Ruffin surrounded himself with great songwriters for his debut - legends behind the scenes. HARVEY FUQUA had formed the famed Vocal Group The Moonglows in the early Fifties and had a history with Motown stretching right back to their first release for Barrett Strong that Fuqua distributed on his own Anna Records. He'd guided Marvin Gaye to Tammi Terrell and co-written the monster Miracles No. 1 "Tears Of A Clown". His hands are on three songs - the big single and its B-side "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" b/w "I've Got To Find Myself A Brand New Baby": which the label put out prior to the album's release in late January 1969 on Motown 1149 which rose to No. 2 R&B (No. 9 Pop) - and the third being "World Of Darkness" - a co-write with Thomas Kemp who'd written hits for other Motown acts like The Spinners, The Isley Brothers and Marvin and Tammi. The other huge force on the LP is future Disco legend JOHNNY BRISTOL who co-pens six of the twelve songs on here - "My Whole World Ended (The Moment I Lost You)", "Pieces Of A Man", "I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved", "I've Got To Find Myself A Brand New Baby", "My Love Is Growing Stronger" and "Flower Child" - most of which are very upbeat Northern Soul dancers and display his uncanny knack for a hooky tune.

Penned by Buzz Carson and Mac Gayden - "Everlasting Love" is the kind of infectious love song that has legs everywhere and for everyone - Robert Knight first aired it in 1967 (Rising Sons RS 705) - The Love Affair put it at No. 1 in the UK on CBS Records in January 1968 (CBS 3125) while Carl Carlton returned to it in October 1974 on Back Beat Records and got a US R&B No. 11. Here David takes the hooky little sucker and simply adds some Motown Soul to The Love Affair dancing version. Other winners include "The Double Cross" and "We Have A Good Thing Going On" - both penned by the duo of Allen Story and George "Horgay" Gordy. Motown's second single off the album was "I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved" which they paired with "We'll Have A Good Thing Going On" in September 1969 (Motown 1149) - gaining them a more modest R&B placing of No. 11 (No. 59 Pop). The album ends on the very wordy and contemplative "Flower Child" - a mid-tempo message song about a daughter making the writer's pain melt away.

David Ruffin's "My Whole World Ended" is a five star winning debut. He'd follow it with the less-convincing "Feelin' Good" album only months later in November 1969 (April 1970 in the UK on Tamla) – but that felt like sloppy seconds for the most part. This is the one - and resplendent here with sexy repro presentation and lovely Audio - fans should dive in and get tearful once again with the mighty Ruff...

Titles in the 2015/2016 'Universal/Elemental Music' CD Reissue Series are:

1. Hang On In There Baby (1974 LP on MGM Records) - JOHNNY BRISTOL (Universal/Elemental 88518 - 8435395501153)

2. The Original Disco Man (1979 LP on Polydor) - JAMES BROWN (Universal/Elemental 88523 – Barcode 8435395501450)

3. Music To Make Love By (1975 LP on Chess) - SOLOMON BURKE (Universal/Elemental 88528 – Barcode 8435395501627)

4. Hot On The Tracks (1976 LP on Motown) – THE COMMODORES (Universal/Elemental 88511 – Barcode 8435395500965)

5. Breakin' Bread (1974 LP on People) – FRED (WESLEY) & THE NEW JB’S (Universal/Elemental 88522 – Barcode 8435395501252)

6. Doing It To Death (1973 LP on People) - THE JB'S [with James Brown] (Universal/Elemental 88517 – Barcode 8435395501146)

7. People...Hold On (1972 LP on Tamla) – EDDIE KENDRICKS (Universal/Elemental 88501 – Barcode 8435395500569)

8. Mother Nature's Son (1968 Stereo LP on Cadet, Charles Stepney Production) – RAMSEY LEWIS (Universal/Elemental 88504 – Barcode 8435395500590)

9. Them Changes (1970 LP on Cadet) - RAMSEY LEWIS (Universal/Elemental 88516 – Barcode 8435395501139)

10. Fire (1974 LP on Mercury) - THE OHIO PLAYERS (Universal/Elemental 88506 – Barcode 8435395500973)

11. Skin Tight (1974 LP on Mercury with 1 Bonus Track) - THE OHIO PLAYERS (Universal/Elemental 88510 – Barcode 8435395500958)

12. Get Ready (1969 LP on Rare Earth) – RARE EARTH (Universal/Elemental 88505 – Barcode 8435395500866)

13. Soulin' (1966 Stereo LP on Capitol) - LOU RAWLS (Universal/Elemental 88515 - 8435395501122)

14. Smokey (1973 LP on Tamla) – SMOKEY ROBINSON (Universal/Elemental 88503 – Barcode 8435395500583)

15. My Whole World Ended (1969 Stereo LP on Motown) - DAVID RUFFIN (Universal/Elemental 88527 – Barcode 8435395501542)

16. The Groove Governor (1970 LP on Soul) – JIMMY RUFFIN (Universal/Elemental 88513 – Barcode 8435395501108)

17. Still Waters Run Deep (1970 LP on Tamla) – THE TEMPTATIONS (Universal 88502 – Barcode 8435395500576)

18. Face To Face With... (1971 LP on Gordy) – THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (Universal/Elemental 88509 – Barcode 8435395500941)

19. Together Brothers O.S.T. (1974 2LPs on 20th Century, Single CD) – BARRY WHITE and THE LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA (Universal/Elemental 88507 – Barcode 8435395500880)

"Soulin'" by LOU RAWLS (2016 Universal Spain/Capitol/Elemental Music CD Reissue and Remaster in STEREO with Gatefold Card Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

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"...Love is A Hurtin' Thing..."

Released in the heady summer of 1966 – Lou Rawls was already a nine LP veteran when "Soulin'" went to the coveted No. 1 spot on the US R&B charts.

But despite those accolades and properly beautiful Production quality courtesy of cult hero David Axelrod – the LP's mixture of Jazz Standards and over-brassed swing tunes hasn't weathered well at all. Despite his great silken voice – the title "Soulin'" in today's context is misleading. This is not really Soul music or even Sixties R&B – it's more cheesy Jazz Lounge Music and I for one find it hard going to say the least. Having said that - fans of Rawls and Axelrod will find much to love in this beautifully presented CD reissue (top notch audio). More on that...

This 2016 CD Remaster is part of a European Reissue Series from Universal Spain distributed in the UK by Elemental Music – a reissue label specialising in Soul, Funk, Disco and Fusion LP titles long out of print. With access to the vast back-catalogue of Universal - you get mainly US rarities and obscure albums originally on Polydor, Chess, Cadet, People, Mercury, Capitol Records and of course the huge Motown repertoire including Rare Earth, Soul, Tamla and Gordy (see list below). They’ve been releasing titles steadily since November 2015 and into 2016...

Each CD Reissue is housed in a gatefold LP replica card sleeve with an Inner (a limited edition). It doesn't say anywhere on their glossy packaging (inners or CDs) who or even where these were transferred or remastered despite the claims of such on the stickers on the outer shrink-wrap. Having said that the repro sleeves are accurate - tactile to touch - all coming with a gatefold artwork when most of their original album covers were single sleeves - and best of all have superb Audio care of Universal UMC. If was to hazard a Remaster Engineer guess - it sounds like the work of Gary Moore or Kevin Reeves - both of whom have handled huge numbers of these genre albums for Universal in their extensive 200+ 'Originals' Series. Here are the details...

UK/Europe released 25 August 2016 (June 2016 in the USA) - "Soulin'" by LOU RAWLS on Universal Spain/Capitol/Elemental Music 88515 (Barcode 8435395501122) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 1966 14-track STEREO LP originally on Capital Records and plays out as follows (35:53 minutes):

1. A Whole Lotta Woman

2. Love Is A Hurtin' Thing

3. So Hard To Laugh, So Easy To Cry

4. You're The One

5. Don't Explain

6. What Now My Love

7. Memory Lane

8. Old Man's Memories [Monologue]

9. It Was A Very Good Year

10. Growing Old Gracefully [Monologue]

11. Old Folks

12. Autumn Leaves

13. On A Clear day

14. Breaking My Back

Tracks 1 to 14 are the LP "Soulin'" - released August 1966 in the USA on Capitol Records T 2566 (Mono) and Capitol ST 2566 (Stereo) and February 1967 in the UK on Capitol T 2566 (Mono) and capitol ST 2566 (Stereo) – the STEREO mix is used for this CD Remaster. Arranged and Produced by DAVID AXELROD – it peaked at No. 1 in the USA on the R&B charts.

The inner gatefold is a track list on the left and a black and white publicity photo of a young Lou on the right. Unusual for these repro sleeves – the inner sleeve contains the lyrics to the songs on both sides – something the original issue didn't bother with on either side of the pond (see photos attached). The CD label is Capitol Stereo and the Remastered Audio is spectacularly good – beautifully clear as befits a major label.

The album’s big hit was "Love Is A Hurtin' Thing" – penned by David Linden and Ben Raleigh. Capitol coupled it with the James Alexander and Sam Cooke song "Memory Lane" on the flipside of Capitol 5709 and saw the orange and yellow label 45 conquer the airwaves – only his second 7" single to chart and his first No. 1. To this day it remains a highlight on the LP. But the other stuff like Billie Holiday's "Don’t Explain" and Gilbert Becaud's French schmooze "What Now My Love" feel like Easy Listening Soul - and not in a good way. The two spoken songs called "Monologues" are just weird – one of which lasts only 17 seconds before going into "Old Folks". But you can't fault the Audio - genuinely superlative throughout.

"Soulin'" is a three-star Lou Rawls LP for me - given 5-star treatment here by Britain's Elemental Music. Fans should  dive in – others should try an iTunes listen first...

Titles in the 2015/2016 'Universal/Elemental Music' CD Reissue Series

1. Hang On In There Baby (1974 LP on MGM Records) - JOHNNY BRISTOL (Universal/Elemental 88518 - 8435395501153)

2. The Original Disco Man (1979 LP on Polydor) - JAMES BROWN (Universal/Elemental 88523 – Barcode 8435395501450)

3. Music To Make Love By (1975 LP on Chess) - SOLOMON BURKE (Universal/Elemental 88528 – Barcode 8435395501627)

4. Hot On The Tracks (1976 LP on Motown) – THE COMMODORES (Universal/Elemental 88511 – Barcode 8435395500965)

5. Breakin' Bread (1974 LP on People) – FRED (WESLEY) & THE NEW JB’S (Universal/Elemental 88522 – Barcode 8435395501252)

6. Doing It To Death (1973 LP on People) - THE JB'S [with James Brown] (Universal/Elemental 88517 – Barcode 8435395501146)

7. People...Hold On (1972 LP on Tamla) – EDDIE KENDRICKS (Universal/Elemental 88501 – Barcode 8435395500569)

8. Mother Nature's Son (1968 Stereo LP on Cadet, Charles Stepney Production) – RAMSEY LEWIS (Universal/Elemental 88504 – Barcode 8435395500590)

9. Them Changes (1970 LP on Cadet) - RAMSEY LEWIS (Universal/Elemental 88516 – Barcode 8435395501139)

10. Fire (1974 LP on Mercury) - THE OHIO PLAYERS (Universal/Elemental 88506 – Barcode 8435395500973)

11. Skin Tight (1974 LP on Mercury with 1 Bonus Track) - THE OHIO PLAYERS (Universal/Elemental 88510 – Barcode 8435395500958)

12. Get Ready (1969 LP on Rare Earth) – RARE EARTH (Universal/Elemental 88505 – Barcode 8435395500866)

13. Soulin' (1966 Stereo LP on Capitol) - LOU RAWLS (Universal/Elemental 88515 - 8435395501122)

14. Smokey (1973 LP on Tamla) – SMOKEY ROBINSON (Universal/Elemental 88503 – Barcode 8435395500583)

15. My Whole World Ended (1969 Stereo LP on Motown) - DAVID RUFFIN (Universal/Elemental 88527 – Barcode 8435395501542)

16. The Groove Governor (1970 LP on Soul) – JIMMY RUFFIN (Universal/Elemental 88513 – Barcode 8435395501108)

17. Still Waters Run Deep (1970 LP on Tamla) – THE TEMPTATIONS (Universal 88502 – Barcode 8435395500576)

18. Face To Face With... (1971 LP on Gordy) – THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (Universal/Elemental 88509 – Barcode 8435395500941)

19. Together Brothers O.S.T. (1974 2LPs on 20th Century, Single CD) – BARRY WHITE and THE LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA (Universal/Elemental 88507 – Barcode 8435395500880)

-->

"Them Changes" by RAMSEY LEWIS [feat Phil Upchurch] (2016 Universal Spain/Cadet/Elemental Music CD Remaster in Repro Artwork) - 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)

"...Whatever Sets You Free..."

Following on from his "Ramsey Lewis, The Piano Player" LP in March 1970 (Cadet Records LPS 836) - Illinois Keyboard whiz RAMSEY LEWIS recorded this obscure and forgotten 'live' LP at The Depot in Minneapolis and named it after the Buddy Miles title track "Them Changes" - releasing it on Cadet Records LP 844 in October of that busy year.

This 2016 CD Remaster is part of a European Reissue Series from Universal Spain distributed in the UK by Elemental Music – a reissue label specialising in Soul, Funk, Disco and Fusion LP titles long out of print. With access to the vast back-catalogue of Universal - you get mainly US rarities and obscure albums originally on Polydor, Chess, Cadet, People, Mercury, Capitol Records and of course the huge Motown repertoire including Rare Earth, Soul, Tamla and Gordy (see list below). They’ve been releasing titles steadily since November 2015 and into 2016...

Each CD Reissue is housed in a gatefold LP replica card sleeve with an Inner (a limited edition). It doesn't say anywhere on their glossy packaging (inners or CDs) who or even where these were transferred or remastered despite the claims of such on the stickers on the outer shrink-wrap. Having said that the repro sleeves are accurate - tactile to touch - all coming with a gatefold artwork when most of their original album covers were single sleeves - and best of all have superb Audio care of Universal UMC. If was to hazard a Remaster Engineer guess - it sounds like the work of Gary Moore or Kevin Reeves - both of whom have handled huge numbers of these genre albums for Universal in their extensive 200+ 'Originals' Series. Here are the details...

UK/Europe released 25 August 2016 - "Them Changes" by RAMSEY LEWIS on Universal Spain/Cadet/Elemental 88516 (Barcode 8435395501139) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 1970 7-track LP originally on Cadet Records in the USA and plays out as follows (44:45 minutes):

1. Them Changes

2. Drown In My Own Tears

3. Oh Happy Day

4. Do Whatever Sets You Free [Side 2]

5. Something

6. See The End From The Beginning, Look Afar

7. The Unsilent Minority

Tracks 1 to 7 are the LP "Them Changes" - released October 1970 in the USA on Cadet Records LPS 844 (no UK issue). Arranged and Produced by RAMSEY LEWIS and Recorded by REICE HAMEL - it's a 'live' recording done at The Depot in Minneapolis, Minnesota on the 8th and 9th of May 1970. "Do Whatever Sets You Free" and "The Unsilent Majority" by Ramsey Lewis - "See The End From The Beginning, Look Afar" by Ramsey Lewis and Cleveland Eaton. All others are covers - "Them Changes" by Buddy Miles, "Drown In My Own Tears" by Henry Glover and famously associated with Ray Charles, "Oh Happy Day" by The Edwin Hawkins Singers and "Something" by George Harrison with The Beatles.

RAMSEY LEWIS - Steinway Grand Piano, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano

PHIL UPCHURCH - Fender Electric Guitar

CLEVELAND EATON - Fender Electric Bass

MORRIS JENNINGS - Drums

The inner gatefold is simply a close up of the front sleeve and the Inner Sleeve contains Track Lists and Credits on both sides. The label reflects the pale Blue and White 'Cadet Records' label of old. The LP feels like Donny Hathaway 'Live' circa the same time frame - 1970 intimate and in your face for all the right reasons. And the addition of Phil Upchurch with this Rhythm Section Funks things up into Soul Jazz and Rare Grooves.

The LP opens with applause and a very groovy version of "Them Changes" by Buddy Miles - whose album of the same name had hit the US shelves in July 1970 on Mercury Records and caused a stir both musically and politically. The Lewis Ensemble drops the lyrics and the Brass Funk of Buddy's original - keeping only that tremendous groove (all songs on here are instrumentals). This is a Soul-Jazz-Funk LP – way more in keeping with the sounds of the day that the organ cool Lewis had become known for in the Sixties. You get a slinky Fender Rhodes Piano Funk sound throughout with Upchurch flicking those frets until he comes in on a very tasty solo.

When they do "Them Changes" - as I say it feels like Donny Hathaway 'Live'. Personally I cannot get enough of that sound - the Rhodes magic Hathaway so effortlessly got over on Atlantic Records with his house-band of like-minded musicians is evident all over this album. Lewis switches to Grand Piano for their cover of the Ray Charles 1950's Atlantic hit "Drown In My Own Tears" - but far better is the Fender-Rhodes Funk of "Oh Happy Day" (originally by The Edwin Hawkins Singers) which really lifts the audience out of their seats with whoops of appreciation. At seven and half minutes - Upchurch gets to spread out too - and you forget how lovely the melody to "Oh Happy Day" is.

Side 2 opens with eight-minutes of "Do Whatever Sets You Free" and in keeping with the title - both Drummer Morris Jennings and Cleveland Eaton on Bass get to cut loose as they solo alongside Ramsey tinkering away sexily on those keys. It's a fabulously funky piece where both the band and the whooping audience are clearly digging the groove. There's an unnecessary and poorly recorded distance to the piano sound as "Something" opens - but Ramsey's grand piano playing soon comes into focus. And for such an overdone melody - this feels like one Beatles cover that compliments the beautiful original rather than imitates (Phil plays some tasty licks too). Back to the groove with "See The End From The Beginning, Look Afar" where the band is cooking by now - bringing it all home with a superb Phil Upchurch led "The Unsilent Majority" - probably the sexiest groove on the record.

It's not all genius by any means and there are occasional production problems on some of the recordings - but that groove sends me - and the added 'live' element only makes me want more. A smart reissue and I hope they tackle other Cadet Records albums especially involving arranger-genius Charles Stepney...

Titles in the 2015 and 2016 'Universal/Elemental Music' CD Reissue Series are:

1. Hang On In There Baby (1974 LP on MGM Records) - JOHNNY BRISTOL (Universal/Elemental 88518 - 8435395501153)

2. The Original Disco Man (1979 LP on Polydor) - JAMES BROWN (Universal/Elemental 88523 – Barcode 8435395501450)

3. Music To Make Love By (1975 LP on Chess) - SOLOMON BURKE (Universal/Elemental 88528 – Barcode 8435395501627)

4. Hot On The Tracks (1976 LP on Motown) – THE COMMODORES (Universal/Elemental 88511 – Barcode 8435395500965)

5. Breakin' Bread (1974 LP on People) – FRED (WESLEY) & THE NEW JB’S (Universal/Elemental 88522 – Barcode 8435395501252)

6. Doing It To Death (1973 LP on People) - THE JB'S [with James Brown] (Universal/Elemental 88517 – Barcode 8435395501146)

7. People...Hold On (1972 LP on Tamla) – EDDIE KENDRICKS (Universal/Elemental 88501 – Barcode 8435395500569)

8. Mother Nature's Son (1968 LP on Cadet) – RAMSEY LEWIS (Universal/Elemental 88504 – Barcode 8435395500590)

9. Them Changes (1970 LP on Cadet) - RAMSEY LEWIS (Universal/Elemental 88516 – Barcode 8435395501139)

10. Fire (1974 LP on Mercury) - THE OHIO PLAYERS (Universal/Elemental 88506 – Barcode 8435395500973)

11. Skin Tight (1974 LP on Mercury) - THE OHIO PLAYERS (with 1 Bonus Track) (Universal/Elemental 88510 – Barcode 8435395500958)

12. Get Ready (1969 LP on Rare Earth) – RARE EARTH (Universal/Elemental 88505 – Barcode 8435395500866)

13. Soulin' (1966 LP on Capitol) - LOU RAWLS (Universal/Elemental 88515 - 8435395501122)

14. Smokey (1973 LP on Tamla) – SMOKEY ROBINSON (Universal/Elemental 88503 – Barcode 8435395500583)

15. My Whole World Ended (1969 LP on Motown) - DAVID RUFFIN (Universal/Elemental 88527 – Barcode 8435395501542)

16. The Groove Governor (1970 LP on Soul) – JIMMY RUFFIN (Universal/Elemental 88513 – Barcode 8435395501108)

17. Still Waters Run Deep (1970 LP on Tamla) – THE TEMPTATIONS (Universal 88502 – Barcode 8435395500576)

18. Face to Face With... (1971 LP on Gordy) – THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (Universal/Elemental 88509 – Barcode 8435395500941)

19. Together Brothers O.S.T. (1974 2LPs on 20th Century, Single CD) – BARRY WHITE and THE LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA (Universal/Elemental 88507 – Barcode 8435395500880)