"The Big Chill Soundtrack: Deluxe Edition" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – September 1983 US Soundtrack Album on Motown Records, Plus April 1984 Follow-Up Motown Album "More Songs From The Big Chill" Plus 2 Bonus Soundtrack Pieces (all CD1) and CD2 "Bigger Chill – Music Of A Generation" with 19 Further Sixties and Seventies Period Tracks (March 2004 USA Hip-O Select 2CD Deluxe Edition with 26 Bonus Tracks and Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Dancing In The Street..."

 

Universal's Deluxe Edition 2CD Compilations seem to be defunct now in 2023. Once they were such a force – a huge 630-plus releases from 2001 onward to 2017 encompassing all genres of music. Now they are all but forgotten it seems - part of CD Reissue History - a series that had simply outran its course and overstayed its welcome.

 

DE's had that look – initially with the outer DELUXE EDITION plastic slipcase (often with credits printed on the rear, this DE does) that would be later be replaced by a band on the outside of a flimsy card Digipak (Thin Lizzy issues) that cheapened the series to a point where collectors hated them. And it seemed that every huge album issued in the 60ts, 70ts and 80ts had to have a DE. But many titles seemed to be stretching it at times with dubious bonuses and there was never that much of an imagination when it came to what was reissued. 

 

But there were about 10 in my books (Howlin' Wolf "The London Chess Sessions", Whiskeytown's "Strangers Almanac", The Who's "Who's Next", Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On", the Jimmy Cliff and Various Artists Reggae Soundtrack "The Harder They Come", Bob Marley & The Wailers "Legend: Best Of") that actually sang like a bird and genuinely enhanced the original they were supposed to be complimenting.

 

Originally issued as a humble 10-tracker LP on US Motown in September 1983, "The Big Chill Original Soundtrack" focused on the exuberant "Dancing In The Street" Soul, R&B, Rock and Pop of the Sixties. It proved hugely popular because of its on-the-money track choices. The Lawrence Kasdan directed film about American friends navigating life, marriage, loneliness, kids and success in the burbs starring Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly and Jobeth Williams caught the zeitgeist when it was released into the cinema in late 1983. Hitting the Billboard LP charts in late October 1983 – it rose to No. 17and spent a whopping 161 weeks on the charts. The music in the film was so popular, it spawned a follow-up More album in 1984 that itself peaked at a more modest No. 85 – but was still impressive. Two songs are missing from that second album – The Rolling Stones and The Steve Miller Band due to licensing. This 2CD DE variant of "The Big Chill Soundtrack" just amplifies both of those LPs by adding 21 more cuts. It's a winner I've been meaning to champion for years.

 

You could easily argue that there are so many 60ts compilations that offer more, are easier to get etc. But this is one of those Hip-O Select reissues that so works and with genuinely top-notch Suha Gur Remasters (access to original master tapes) – packs the punch where it counts – audio – and can still be purchased in certain places for under fifteen quid. With its Digipak interior, outer plastic slipcase and its 24-page expanded booklet, it looks the part too. There's a lot to digest, so to the cold sweats...

 

US released 23 March 2004 - "The Big Chill Soundtrack: Deluxe Edition" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Hip-O Select B0001940-02 (Barcode 602498162286) is a 2CD Deluxe Edition Compilation offer Two Albums and Two Previously Unreleased Soundtrack Songs on CD1 with 19 More 'Music Of A Generation' Sixties Tracks on CD2. It plays out as follows (US 45-single details after each title):

 

CD1 (57:03 minutes):

1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – MARVIN GAYE (October 1968, Tamla T-54176, A-side)

2. My Girl – THE TEMPTATIONS (December 1964, Gordy G-7083, A-side)

3. Good Lovin' – THE RASCALS (February 1966, Atlantic 45-2321, A-side)

4. The Tracks Of My Tears – SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (June 1965, Tamla T-54118, A-side)

5. Joy To The World – THREE DOG NIGHT (February 1971, Dunhill/ABC Records D-4272, A-side)

6. Ain't Too Proud To Be – THE TEMPTATIONS (May 1966, Gordy G-7054, A-side)

7. A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like) – ARETHA FRANKLIN (September 1967, Atlantic 45-2441, A-side)

8. I Second That Emotion – SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (October 1967, Tamla T-54159, A-side)

9. A Whiter Shade Of Pale – PROCOL HARUM (June 1967, Deram 45-7507, A-side)

10. Tell Him – THE EXCITERS (October 1962, United Artists UA 544, A-side)

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "The Big Chill Original Soundtrack" – released September 1983 in the USA on Motown 6062 ML. UK release was July 1984 on CD – Motown ZD72347.

 

11. Bad Moon Rising – CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (April 1969, Fantasy 622, A-side)

12. When A Man Loves A Woman – PERCY SLEDGE (March 1966, Atlantic 45-2326, A-side)

13. In The Midnight Hour – THE RASCALS (cover version of the Wilson Pickett Atlantic Records classic, from their debut album "The Young Rascals" - released March 1966 in the USA on Atlantic 8123 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8123 (Stereo) – Stereo Version used)

14. Gimme Some Lovin' – THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (December 1966, United Artists UA 50108, A-side, featured vocalist is Steve Winwood)

15. The Weight – THE BAND (August 1968, Capitol 2269, A-side, featured vocalist Robbie Robertson)

16. Wouldn't It Be Nice – THE BEACH BOYS (July 1966, Capitol 5706, A-side)

Tracks 11 to 17 on CD1 and Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4 on CD2 are the album "More Songs From The Original Soundtrack Of The Big Chill" – released April 1984 in the USA on Motown 6094M. Note: the original LP had 11-tracks – the two missing are "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones and "Quicksilver Girl" by The Steve Miller Band due to licensing. Four of these LP tracks were not actually featured in the movie but included on the LP as period pieces – they are separated over to Tracks 1 to 4 on CD2.

 

FILM INSTRUMENTALS

17. Strangers In The Night – BERT KAEMPFERT (April 1966, Decca 31945, A-side – also on "More Songs From The Original Soundtrack Of The Big Chill" LP from 1984 – see Tracks 11 to 16 above)

18. You Can't Always Get What You Want – CHURCH VERSION (Previously Unreleased, 1983 Soundtrack Version used at the beginning of the movie)

 

CD2 "Bigger Chill: Music Of A Generation" (60:20 minutes):

1. It's The Same Old Song – THE FOUR TOPS (July 1965, Motown M 1081, A-side)

2. Dancing In The Street – MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS (July 1964, Gordy G-7033, A-side)

3. What's Going On – MARVIN GAYE (January 1971, Tamla T 54201, A-side)

4. Too Many Fish In The Sea – THE MARVELETTES (October 1964, Tamla T-54105, A-side)

Tracks 1 to 4 do not appear in the film but were included on the follow-up LP "More Songs From The Original Soundtrack Of The Big Chill" in April 1984

 

5. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing – MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL (March 1968, Tamla T-54163, A-side)

6. What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted – JIMMY RUFFIN (June 1966, Soul S-35022, A-side)

7. Shotgun – Jr. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (January 1965, Soul S 35008, A-side)

8. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) – ISLEY BROTHERS (March 1968, Tamla T-54164, A-side)

9. Ask Any Girl – THE SUPREMES (September 1964, Motown M-1066, B-side to "Baby Love")

10. You Don't Own Me – LESLEY GORE (December 1963, Mercury 72206, A-side)

11. Like To Get To Know You – SPANKY & OUR GANG (April 1968, Mercury 72795, A-side)

12. Monday, Monday – THE MAMAS and THE PAPAS (March 1966, Dunhill D-4026, A-side)

13. Nights In White Satin – MOODY BLUES (January 1968, Deram 45-85023, A-side)

14. Feelin' Alright – JOE COCKER (May 1969, A&M 1063, A-side)

15. Game Of Love – WAYNE FONTANA & THE MINDBENDERS (February 1965, Fontana F-1503, A-side)

16. I Got You (I Feel Good) – JAMES BROWN and THE FAMOUS FLAMES (October 1965, King 45-6015, A-side)

17. (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet – BLUES MAGOOS (October 1966, Mercury 72622, A-side)

18. Time Of The Season – THE ZOMBIES (October 1968, Date 2-1628, A-side)

19. Get It While You Can – HOWARD TATE (March 1967, Verve VK 10496, A-side)

 

The four-way foldout card digipak provides stills from the movie on the inner flaps (William Hurt and Meg Tilly – Jeff Goldblum and Tom Berenger) – there's nothing underneath the see-through CD trays, but the oversized 24-page booklet has a new and very cool essay from KEVIN FILIPSKI called The Pulse Of A Generation – he being the first cool one to review the film in his 1983 college newspaper. For instance – Filipski points out that the hugely overplayed (and a tune I personally hate) "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" by Procol Harum was first used in this 1983 film and to clever visual story-telling effect. Since then, Shade has been in every 60ts-based movie under the sun as an easy theme touch. Abutting the text are pictures of both album sleeves from 1983 and 1984, basic track details (no catalogue numbers or dates, I have provided that above) and two other photos of actors Kevin Kline, William Hurt and Meg Tilly.

 

But all of that is whomped by the fantastically alive Audio – remastered by a man who has had a hand in huge numbers of Motown and Hip-O Select reissues – SUHA GUR. Like Ellen Fitton or Erick Labson or Gavin Lurssen – Suha Gur is a Remastering Engineer I seek out. I've reviewed his Allman Brothers, Four Tops, Cream, Kansas, Fairport Convention, Joe Cocker Remasters - many on Deluxe Editions - and all are exceptionally good. Take a trio like the rarely heard B-side "Ask Any Girl" by The Supremes nestling as Track 9 on CD2 followed by Lesley Gore doing "You Don't Own Me" as Track 10 and again the lesser-celebrated "Like To Get To Know You" by Spanky & Our Gang as Track 11 (dig that fantastic Mamas & Papas layered vocal passage that plays the song out) – you may to turn the stereo down such is the clarity – fabulous stuff.

 

The 1983 Motown album and its 1984 follow-up followed the same musical formula - mostly 60ts Soul, R 'n' B, Pop and Rock with a smattering of early Seventies - Marvin Gaye's utterly stupendous "What's Going On" and Three Dog Night's fab cover of the Hoyt Axton tune "Joy To The World" - Jeremiah Bullfrog sounding like the decade before anyway. You might look at titles like "Dancing In The Street" by Martha & The Vandellas, "Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin or even "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" by The Temptations- and think - I've heard these perennials too many times before. But you haven't heard them in this clarity which has endowed each with a freshness that's revelatory - and on more than a few occasions I cried because they capture youth. Throw in nuggets like Joe Cocker's utter belter "Feelin' Alright" or even the innocence in The Marvelettes and their girly "Too Many Fish In The Sea" or or the blistering Motownesque "Gimme Some Lovin'" by The Spencer Davis group fronted by the astonishing young pipes of Steve Winwood. Hell, I even dig that Church Version of The Stones' "Let It Bleed" classic "You Can't Always Get What You Want" that Kasdan used at the beginning of the movie when you slowly begin to realize why someone is being dressed...

And on it goes - "The Big Chill Soundtrack: Deluxe Edition" is that rarity in reissues - the kind of release that upped the original to a point where a compilation is remembered with such affection 40-years after its initial charm. Check online too in 2023 as price vary. Buy and enjoy...

"Geronimo's Cadillac" by MICHAEL MURPHEY - May 1972 US Debut Solo Album [ex The Lewis and Clarke Expedition] on A&M Records, October 1972 in the UK on Regal Zonophone Records featuring Members of The Lost Gonzo Band, Blue Steel, Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry (August 2004 US-Only Hip-O Select/A&M Records CD Reissue In A Numbered Limited Edition (5000 Copies) Hard Card Oversized Mini LP Repro Artwork Gatefold Sleeve with Hip-O Inner - Gavin Lurssen Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...That Rainbow Man..."

 

Trading under the aliases of Travis Lewis and Boomer Clarke - Texans Michael Martin Murphey and his pal Boomer Castleman had been in the short-lived one-album band The Lewis And Clarke Expedition. Their "Earth, Air, Fire & Water" debut LP had appeared on Colgems Records in November 1967 (COM-105 Mono and COS-105 Stereo). As Lewis and Clarke, they had also managed to place their song "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round" (from that L&W debut) on Side 2 of The Monkees LP "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd" (Colgems COS-104, also issued November 1967). Probably kept them in peanuts and coffee for a while.

 

Years later, legendary Producer Bob Johnston of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen and Simon & Garfunkel fame brought Michael Murphey to A&M Records and Nashville as a Promising New Artist. And that brings us to this, his rather lovely but kind of obscure Country-Folk-Rock debut solo album "Geronimo's Cadillac". 

 

Issued May 1972 on A&M Records in the USA and October 1972 on EMI's Regal Zonophone label in the UK - Murphey in fact re-visited "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round" on his debut - and again in his own stylistically Terry Reid-ish gruff-voiced style. To the digital...

 

Hip-O Select's CD reissue is part of their Limited Edition to 5000 numbered series - hard card sleeves with inners and various original features. Good news and bad news there. The original American LP was on their Tan Label variant and came with an inner sleeve that printed all the lyrics - this CD rather stupidly uses a pressing probably around 1975 that has the Silver and Gold A&M label, advert inner bag for other A&M Records and no lyrics. This means that you get the Silver & Gold label on the CD and a rather silly repro of those A&M Records advert bag on a single slip of paper. The hard card gatefold sleeve (numbered in gold on the rear, see photos) is truly gorgeous and is oversized compared to say those Japanese SHM-CD Mini LP Repros. But the best news is what I really want - a stunningly pretty and clear CD Remaster courtesy of GAVIN LURSSEN from original tapes. 

I've got Lurssen's stellar transfers across a multitude of releases - Stephen Bishop ("Careless" and "Bish", both issues in this numbered series too), Joe Walsh ("Barnstorm"), Steppenwolf and The Crusaders ("Gold"), Terry Callier ("Occasional Rain"), Jimmy Cliff ("The Harder They Come" DE 2CD Version), Bo Diddley ("Chess Years") and right on up to Tom Waits ("Blood And Money") and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' magnificent "Raising Sand" set in 2007. Lurssen is the kind of Audio Engineer I seek out - and make no mistake - his work here is just beautiful. Only seconds into the lovely Acoustic Guitar of "Boy From The Country" and you'll be done and dusted. If you have any love for "Geronimo's Cadillac", then this is the digital version you need to own. To the details that 'take me back'...

 

US-only released 20 August 2004 - "Geronimo's Cadillac" by MICHAEL MURPHEY on Hip-O Select/A&M Records B0002878-02 (no Barcode) is a Limited Numbered Edition of 5000 Copies. It's housed in a Hard-Card Oversized Gate-fold Mini LP Repro Artwork Sleeve with a Hip-O Select See-Through Plastic Inner and Mid-70ts A&M Records Advert Bag reproduced as a single page insert (no lyrics). It plays out as follows (44:49 minutes):

 

1. Geronimo's Cadillac [Side 1]

2. Natchez Trace 

3. Calico Silver 

4. Harbor For My Soul 

5. Rainbow Man 

6. Waking Up 

7. Crack Up in Las Cruces [Side 2]

8. Boy From The Country 

9. What Am I Doin' Hangin' Around?

10. Michael Angelo's Blues (Song For Hogman)

11. Backslider's Wine 

12. The Lights Of The City 

Tracks 1 to 12 are his Debut Solo Album (as Michael Murphey) "Geronimo's Cadillac" - released May 1972 in the USA on A&M Records SP 4358 and October 1972 in the UK on Regal Zonophone SRZA 3062. Produced by BOB JOHNSTON - it charted September 1972 USA and peaked at No. 160 some weeks later (didn't chart UK). 

 

MUSICIANS: 

MICHAEL MURPHEY [ex The Lewis & Clarke Expedition] - Lead Vocals, Acoustic, Bottleneck, Mandolin, Piano & Harp

LEONARD ARNOLD [ex Lavender Hill Express, later with Blue Steel] - Electric and Pedal Steel Guitar 

GARY NUNN [The Lost Gonzo Band] - Bass, Piano And Background Vocals 

ROBERT LIVINGSTON [The Lost Gonzo Band] - Bass and Background Vocals

BOOMER CASTLEMAN [ex The Lewis & Clarke Expedition] - Electric Guitar with Hand Levers 

KENNY BUTTREY [Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry] - Drums & Percussion

KARL HIMMEL [Mother Earth] - Drums 

CHARLES JOHN QUATRO - Vocals 

These Hip-O Select numbered CD reissues are lookers, lovely and so aesthetically pleasing, but again it's the GAVIN LURSSEN audio that thrills. To pre-empt the album in Blighty, Regal Zonophone issued "Geronimo's Car" as a 45-single on the 1st of September 1972 with the equally melodious "Boy From The Country" on the flipside for RZ 3062. But while it tanked in England, the USA afforded the same track combo a cool LP-artwork picture sleeve for their 7" single on A&M 1368. That July 1972-issued 45-single rose across months to No. 37 on the Billboard charts. So lingering around since May 1972, the LP then suddenly began getting traction and finally charted Stateside in September 1972 for a stay of 9 weeks. Speaking of sweet sounds, the slide guitar and warm bass of "Natchez Trace" and the Acoustic Plainsong-sounding strum of "Backslider's Wine" (the rain ruining his alibi) are other examples of beautiful audio.

 

While his brand of Country Rock and Acoustics meant zip in the UK, Murphey would go on to chart another seven albums on the US Billboard Album Charts on a variety of labels (A&M, Epic and Liberty) between 1973 and 1983. Arnold and Nunn would both be part of The Lost Gonzo Band on MCA Records from 1975 onwards, while Charles Quatro (poet and singer) would go on to have his own solo LP on Atlantic Records in 1971.

 

But "Geronimo's Cadillac" is Murphey's mellow even Country-Soulful starting place. And Hip-O Select have done it proud on the audio front at least on this now rare American-only 2004 CD Remaster - even if the packaging sloppiness kind of let the lyrical side down somewhat. 

 

Summing up - as the piano and organ in the LP's hymnal finisher "The Lights In The City" (written by Ray Lewis) swells around your room and talk of light shining down fills your speakers - I suspect fans and newcomers alike will be basking in this disc's audio glow. Rare but nice...

"The Singles Volume Four: 1966-1967" by JAMES BROWN - Featuring Billy Butler, Sam "The Man" Taylor, Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Nolen, Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, Dud Bascomb, Waymon Reed, Laman Wright, St. Clair Pinckney, Nat Jones, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and Clyde Stubblefield of The Famous Flames with guests The Jewels and The Charmaines (October 2007 USA Hip-O Select 2CD Anthology of Remasters - No. 4 of 11 Volumes of Singles – Alan Leeds Annotation and Seth Foster Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Cold Sweat..."

The 42-Tracks of "The Singles Volume 4..." by all things JAMES BROWN covers releases from February 1966 through to October 1967 – fourth in a truly stunning 11-Volume Series of 2CD-Compilations that has had most fans reaching for the Mr. Dynamite superlatives, and genuinely finding there aren't enough.

Alongside every King, Smash and Bethlehem Records A&B-side, we get the altered mix for "This Old Heart" that appeared on King 6044 ("This Old Heart" is also on Volume 3 in the series as King 5995 for February 1965), both sides of the unissued King 6087 single for "It's A Gas Part 1 and 2" and King 6111 for "It Won't Be Me" b/w "Mona Lisa", both versions of King 6122 because "Get It Together" was issued with two different edits and those lesser-seen Christmas singles too. And of course there are the career/world-altering monster number one hits in the shape of "It's Man's Man's Man's World" and "Cold Sweat". 

Volume Four also has the same spectacular Audio and beautifully presented 28-page fact-filled booklet on Soul Brother No. 1 that all these 45-single anthologies have. The booklet is a feast of fan-pleasing details and memorabilia provided by a team of experts on all things JB Productions - ALAN LEEDS, his manager and pal, being principal among them (it's printed on a sort of sepia-feel paper). It should also be noted too that the eleven volumes in "The Singles" Series for 'James Brown', along with the 'Motown' and 'Chess' Book Set Reissues - has gone a long way to emblazoning 'HIP-O SELECT' as a reissue label dear to SOUL and R&B collector's hearts (they've handled some Rock and Pop titles too). Here are the details...

USA released 19 October 2007 - "The Singles Volume 4: 1966-1967" by JAMES BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0009472-02 (Barcode 602517407725) offers 42-tracks Remastered onto 2CDs (a Limited Edition). All catalogue numbers provided below are US 45-singles (unless otherwise noted) sided with their peak US R&B and Pop Chart placing (no entry means it didn't chart). Each disc breaks down as follows...

Disc 1, 21-Tracks, 55:03 minutes:

1. Ain't That A Groove Part 1

2. Ain't That A Groove Part 1

Tracks 1 and 2 are King 6025, released February 1966, as by James Brown And The Famous Flames. Both parts amount to 3:33-minutes playing time, so 60-seconds of Part 2 is a repeat of what is in Part 1. US chart peak No. 6 R&B and No. 42 Pop

3. New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (Part I)

4. New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (Part II)

Tracks 3 and 4 are Smash 2028, released March 1966, as James Brown. Both are Instrumentals with Part II featuring loops of Part I

5. It's Man's Man's Man's World

6. Is It Yes Or Is It No

Tracks 5 and 6 are King 6035, released April 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 1 R&B, No. 8 Pop

7. James Brown's Boo-Ga-Loo

8. Lost In A Mood Of Changes 

Tracks 7 and 8 are Smash 2042, released June 1966, as by James Brown

9. Money Won't Change You Part 1

10. Money Won't Change You Part 2

Tracks 9 and 10 are King 6048, released July 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 11 R&B and No. 53 Pop

11. This Old Heart

Track 11 is the B-side of King 6044, released August 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. The A-side is "How Long Darling" which was originally on King 5876 in March 1964 - itself a B-side to "Again" (both of those 1964 recordings are available as Tracks 3 and 4 on Disc 1 of Volume 3 in this series). King 6044 from August 1966 was King Records endlessly plundering his back catalogue once again, but its inclusion here is because the 6044 version is a remix and therefore exclusive. 

12. Don't Be A Drop-Out

13. Tell Me That You Love Me

Tracks 12 and 13 are King 6056, released September 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 4 R&B, No. 50 Pop

14. Let's Go Get Stoned 

15. Our Day Will Come

Tracks 14 and 15 are King Smash 2064, released November 1966, as by James Brown At The Organ. The A-side was an Ashford & Simpson song recently made a hit by Ray Charles on ABC-Paramount 10808 in May 1966

16. The Christmas Song (Version 1)

17. The Christmas Song (Version 2)

Tracks 16 and 17 are King 6064, released November 1966 as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. The A-side (a Mel Torme cover) is described as a 'mellow' version sung in the smooth style of Charles Brown, whilst the version 2 cut is in a different key where JB reverts to his own voice. 

18. Sweet Little Baby Boy (Part 1)

19. Sweet Little Baby Boy (Part 1)

Tracks 19 and 20 are King 6065, released November 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames

20. Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year (Part 1)

21. Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year (Part 2)

Tracks 20 and 21 are King 6072, released late November 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. None of his three Christmas singles for 1966 charted, although this one received most airplay 

Disc 2, 21-Tracks, 63:53 minutes:

1. Bring It Up

2. Nobody Knows

Tracks 1 and 2 are King 6071, released December 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. 

3. Kansas City

4. Stone Fox

Tracks 3 and 4 are King 6086, released February 1967, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Both sides are instrumentals and this is the last record to credit The Famous Flames. B-side is an instrumental and features guitarist Troy Seals

5. It's A Gas Part 1

6. It's A Gas Part 2

Tracks 5 and 6 are King 6087, UNRELEASED, was to be by The James Brown Dancers

7. Think

Track 7 is King 6091, released February 1967, as by Vicki Anderson and James Brown. B-side is "Nobody Cares" by Vicki Anderson (solo) and is not on this compilation

8. Let Yourself Go

9. Good Rockin' Tonight

Tracks 8 and 9 are King 6100, released April 1967, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. The B-side is a Roy Brown cover – US chart peak No. 5 R&B, No. 46 Pop. 

10. I Loves You Porgy

11. Yours And Mine

Tracks 10 and 11 are Bethlehem 3089, released May 1967, as by Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis

12. Jimmy Mack

13. What Do You Like

Tracks 12 and 13 are Smash 2093, released June 1967, as by James Brown At The Organ

14. It Won't Be Me 

15. Mona Lisa

Tracks 14 and 15 are King 6111, scheduled for May 1967 but UNRELEASED, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames

16. Cold Sweat – Part 1

17. Cold Sweat – Part 2

Tracks 16 and 17 are King 6110, released June 1967, as by James Brown. US chart peak No. 1 R&B and No. 7 Pop

18. Get It Together (Part 1)

19. Get It Together (Part 2)

20. Get It Together (Part 1) (Version 2)

21. Get It Together (Part 2) (Version 2)

Tracks 18 and 19/Tracks 20 and 21 are King 6122, released October 1967, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Version 2 is a remixed cut at Brown's insistence that adds on a further 25-seconds of playing time.

Like all 11 Volumes in this Hip-O Select 2CD series, the 28-page booklet by noted JB expert and former tour manager ALAN LEEDS and is a joy to look at — a hugely informative read that's packed to the gills with track histories, concert posters (Madison Square Gardens in New York, Latin Casino in New Jersey, City Stadium in Richmond etc), trade adverts, official tour programs, in on the joke smiling cops leading JB offstage at a huge outdoor event during his 'Please, Please, Please' microphone-pleading routine, and of course, a thoroughly detailed recording Sessionography. 

Produced with affection and firsthand knowledge by HARRY WEINGER and ALAN LEEDS (Leeds was Tour Manager from 1970 to 1974) - the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray has the James Brown's Advice advert for truant young African-American kids to Be The Best – Stay At School. 

Photos include inter-departmental correspondence notes for King Records, a fan club badge for loyal Don't Be A Drop-Out supporters, JB pointing at The Flamingo Club neon in the Nevada Desert distance where Flip Wilson is the support act, alighting a jet for his first barnstorming European Tour and in-the-studio shots with Engineer Ron Lenhoff. There is a gorgeous tinted colour photo on the rear of the booklet that has JB with the four smiling white boys of The Dapps at the Living Room Club in Cincinnati, Ohio mid funky routine that literally oozes pleasure (would love that as a poster on my wall).

Cool and smart attention to detail shows that both compilers know what fans want - for instance the song by song Sessionography in the last few pages provides master numbers, band personnel, 45 and LPs with catalogue numbers noted, Disc and Track location etc. The NOTES stretch for one page. So you learn that "Let Yourself Go" appeared in place of "Kansas City" on some early copies – and that "Kansas City" is extended a further 24-seconds on the King LP version. 

As in previous issues, SETH FOSTER has transferred the first-generation master tapes for the single mixes and he's done a truly superlative job — warm, clear and fabulously alive. The word "Limited Edition" is embossed in gold lettering on the rear inlay – numbers are not stated but presumably it's a worldwide limited edition of 5000 copies like its predecessor. Now to the music...

It speaks volumes of his extraordinary work ethic that Brown popped out FOUR singles in November 1966 – three trying to capture the Christmas market – and when that failed – another that wasn’t a Santa-themed message song just in case its groove might catch the holiday season zeitgeist. But you also get to hear the extraordinary - "It's Man's Man's Man's World", "Let Yourself Go", "Cold Sweat" and the huge leap forwards into that Funk grove that "Get It Together" represented. 

I must admit that I could live without the "Porgy And Bess" and "Jimmy Mack" cover versions, but I love the New Breed Boo-Ga-Loo stuff and two of those rare B-sides slipped me by - "Stone Fox" and "Lost In A Mood Of Changes" - very cool stuff. The Audio too – a fabulous feel to each transfer – lifting up the listen so much. 

I've diligently collected this entire series of 11 x 2CD Singles sets for JAMES BROWN - first released Stateside in September 2006 by Universal's highly collectable mail-order wing - Hip-O Select. Stunning is a word often overused - but on these wickedly good Remasters, it hardly does these twofer peaches justice. And his band would only go on to re-route Soul and Funk come Volumes 5, 6, 7 and 8 that take us from the late 60ts up to the early-to-mid Seventies (all reviewed). 

For those wanting to know why Funk happened or simply hear evidence of his relentless musical genius during those amazingly productive years - its an absolute must own. Don't be a drop out JB used to say; well I say, be a drop-in on the whole caboodle...

"The Funk Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 55-Tracks from 1970 to 1982 featuring James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Byrd, Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, The Chakachas, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Billy Preston, Lyn Collins, The Fatback Band, The J.B.'s, Marvin Gaye, War, Cymande, The New Birth (featuring Bobby Womack), Barry White, Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, Tower Of Power, The O'Jays, Kool & The Gang, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, The Blackbyrds, B.T. Express, The Meters, Ohio Players, The Temptations, Average White Band, Jermaine Jackson, The Isley Brothers, Graham Central Station, Parliament, Brothers Johnson, Brass Construction, Brick, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Funkadelic, Rick James, Bohannon, Cameo and more (November 2000 USA Universal/Hip-O Compilation – Remastered 55-Track 4CD Velvet-Overlaid Digibook – Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 284 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2021 Update)

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

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"...Pass The Peas..."

Touchy-feely and Funky-footy! Pass The Peas Baby!

When compact discs first hit the market - for almost a decade or more - Rhino of the USA were always the reissue company of go-getter choice for collectors when it came to Soul, R&B and Funk – especially as they had unfettered access to the mighty array of labels in the Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Records cannon. But spare a thought for the mail-order branch of Universal, Hip-O, later to become the more famous Hip-O Select. And especially for this long-forgotten and rarely seen American-only thing of swivel-hip-beauty - "The Funk Box". Four CDs chock full of primo bootyliciousness and all of it delivered in neighbour-concerning speaking-thumping glory. Talk about a proper blast from the past...and one that needs to be reappraised. 

Released Stateside-only in late 2000 by Universal/Hip-O - its 55 stunningly-remastered tracks trace James Brown in July 1970 on King Records getting up and feeling like a Sex Machine all the way through to December 1982 on Capitol Records where Parliament's George Clinton was getting Atomic with his Dog (he could never leave that mutt alone). Woof-woof indeed! 

You get a slew of rare 45-single cuts, uncompromising full album versions, cleverly chosen CD compilation rarities from the 80ts and 90ts and even the occasional Promo-Only 12-inch single mix making its digital debut. It is without doubt one of those vault-trawls that I cannot stop playing and admiring. There is a lot to shake our booties too, rubbers to burn and ounces to bounce - so let's get some jungle fever and tear the roof off of this brick house... 

US released November 2000 - "The Funk Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Hip-O 314 541 789-2 (Barcode 731454178921) is a 55-Track 4CD Velvet-Covered Digibook Compilation featuring 45-Single A-sides and Full Album Tracks ranging from 1970 to 1982 (versions noted in text below) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (75:21 minutes):

1. Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like A) Sex Machine (Part 1 & 2) - JAMES BROWN (June 1970 US 45 on King 45-6318 - features The J.B.'s - Full Length Version, 5:15 minutes)

2. Express Yourself - CHARLES WRIGHT AND THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (August 1970 US 45 on Warner Brothers 7417, 3:51 minutes)

3. Give It Up Or Burnit A Loose - JAMES BROWN (unedited, undubbed mix first issued on the CD compilation "Funk Power - 1970: A Brand New Thang" in 1996 on Polydor/Chronicles 531 684-2 - features The J.B.'s, 6:23 minutes)  

4. Rock Steady - ARETHA FRANKLIN (October 1971 US 45 on Atlantic 2838 and on the "Young, Gifted & Black" LP, 3:11 minutes)

5. Slippin' Into Darkness - WAR (from the November 1971 US LP "All Day Music" on United Artists UAS 5546, Full Album Version at 6:59 minutes)

6. I Know You Got Soul - BOBBY BYRD (Extended Version at 4:42 minutes, first issued on the 1988 LP/CD compilation "James Brown's Funky People (Part 2)" on Polydor 835 847)

7. Jungle Fever - THE CHAKACHAS (November 1971 US 45 on Polydor 15030, 4:21 minutes) 

8. It's Just Begun - THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH (from the March 1972 US LP "It's Just Begun" on RCA Victor LSP-4640, 3:41 minutes)

9. Outa-Space - BILLY PRESTON (December 1971 US 45 on A&M Records AM-1320, B-side of "I Wrote A Simple Song", 4:07 minutes)

10. Think (About It) - LYN COLLINS (The Female Preacher) (May 1972 US 45 People 608, 3:19 minutes)

11. Goin' To See My Baby - FATBACK BAND (from the 1972 US LP "Let's Do It Again" on Perception Records PLP 28, 3:16 minutes)

12. Pass The Peas - J.B.'s (from the July 1972 US LP "Food For Thought" on People PE-5601, features James Brown and Fred Wesley, 3:28 minutes)

13. "T" Plays It Cool - MARVIN GAYE (from the December 1972 US Soundtrack LP "Trouble Man" on Tamla T 322L, Full album Version at 4:26 minutes)

14. The Message - CYMANDE (from the December 1972 US LP "Cymande" on Janus JLS 3044, Full Album Version at 4:15 minutes)

15. I Can Understand It - THE NEW BIRTH [featuring BOBBY WOMACK on Lead Vocals] (from the 1972 US debut album "Birth Day" on RCA Victor LSP-4797, Full Album Version at 6:21 minutes)

16. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby - BARRY WHITE (from the April 1973 US LP "I've Got So Much To Give" on 20th Century T-407, Full Album Version at 7:10 minutes)  

CD2 (77:30 minutes):

1. Future Shock - CURTIS MAYFIELD (from the June 1973 US LP "Back In The World" on Curtom CRS 8015, Full Album Version at 3:36 minutes)

2. The Bottle - GIL SCOTT-HERON and BRIAN JACKSON (from the May 1974 US LP "Winter in America" on Strata-East SES-19742, Full Album Version at 5:05 minutes) 

3. What Is Hip? - TOWER OF POWER (from the May 1973 US Debut LP "Tower Of Power" on Warner Brothers BS 2681, Full Album Version at 5:04 minutes)

4. The Payback - JAMES BROWN (from the December 1973 US 2LP-set "The Payback" on Polydor PD 2-3007 (April 1974 in the UK), Full Album Version at 7:25 minutes)

5. For The Love Of Money - THE O'JAYS (from the October 1973 US LP "Ship Ahoy" on Philadelphia International KZ 32408, Full Album Version at 7:20 minutes)

6. Hollywood Swinging - KOOL & THE GANG (from the October 1973 US LP "Wild And Peaceful" on De-Lite DEP 2013, Full Album Version at 4:35 minutes)

7. Tell Me Something Good - RUFUS featuring CHAKA KHAN (from the June 1974 US LP "Rags To Rufus" on ABC Records ABCX-809, Full Album Version at 4:36 minutes)

8. Do It, Fluid - THE BLACKBYRDS (from the June 1974 US LP "The Blackbyrds" on Fantasy F-9444, Full Album Version at 5:25 minutes) 

9. Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) - B.T. EXPRESS (from the November 1974 US LP "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)" on Scepter Records SPS 5117, Full Album Version at 5:51 minutes)

10. Just Kissed My Baby - THE METERS (from the October 1974 US LP "Rejuvenation" on Reprise MS 2200, Full Album Version at 4:42 minutes)

11. Skin Tight - OHIO PLAYERS (from the April 1974 US LP "Skin Tight" on Mercury SRM-1 705, Full Album Version at 7:54 minutes)

12. I Get Lifted - GEORGE McCRAE (October 1974 US 45 on T.K. Records TK 1007, B-side to "I Can't Leave You Alone", 2:46 minutes)

13. Shakey Ground - THE TEMPTATIONS (February 1975 US 45 on Gordy G 7142F, 4:02 minutes)

14. School Boy Crush - AVERAGE WHITE BAND (October 1975 US 45 on Atlantic 45-3304, 4:58 minutes)

15. Erucu - JERMAINE JACKSON (from the October 1975 US Soundtrack LP "Mahogany" on Motown M6-858S1, 3:29 minutes) 

 

CD3 (78:45 minutes):

1. Fight The Power Parts 1 & 2 - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (from the June 1975 US LP "The Heat Is On" on T-Neck PZ 33536, Full Album Version at 5:20 minutes)

2. The Jam - GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION (from the August 1975 US LP "Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It" on Warner Brothers BS 2876, Full Album Version at 3:38 minutes)

3. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) - PARLIAMENT (from the February 1976 US LP "Mothership Connection" on Casablanca NBLP 7022, Full Album Version at 5:46 minutes)

4. Get The Funk Out Ma Face - BROTHERS JOHNSON (August 1976 US 45 on A&M Records 1851-S, Full Album Version at 5:57 minutes)

5. Changin' - BRASS CONSTRUCTION (from the December 1975 US Debut LP "Brass Construction" on United Artists UA-LA545-G - charted February 1976, Full Album Version at 8:12 minutes)

6. Dazz - BRICK (September 1976 US 45 on Bang B-727, Full Album Version at 5:35 minutes)

7. Superman Lover - JOHNNY GUITAR WTSON (from the 1976 US LP "Ain't That A Bitch" on DJM Records DJLPA-3, Full Album Version at 5:42 minutes)

8. The Pinocchio Theory - BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND (February 1977 US 45 on Warner Brothers WBS 8328, Full Album Version at 6:07 minutes)

9. Slide - SLAVE (from the March 1977 US LP "Slave" on Cotillion SD 9914, Full Album Version at 6:49 minutes)

10. The Hump - PATRICE RUSHEN (from the March 1977 US LP "Shout It Out" on Prestige P-10101, Full Album Version at 6:08 minutes) 

11. Running Away (12" Mix) - ROY AYERS (August 1977 US 12" Single on Polydor PD D502, 6:54 minutes)

12. Brick House (12" Mix, A Special Length Disco Version) - THE COMMODORES (August 1977 US 12" Single on Motown M00007D1, 6:11 minutes)

13. Let's Have Some Fun - BAR-KAYS (from the November 1977 US LP "Flying High On Your Love" on Mercury SRM-1-1181, Full Album Version at 6:02 minutes)

CD4 (75:39 minutes):

1. You And I – RICK JAMES (from the May 1978 US LP "Come Get It!" on Gordy G7-981R1, Full Album Version at 8:04 minutes)

2. I Like Girls – FATBACK (from the June 1978 US LP "Fired Up 'N' Kickin'" on Spring Records SP-1-6718, Full Album Version at 7:37 minutes)

3. Let's Start The Dance - BOHANNON (from the June 1978 US LP "Summertime Groove" on Mercury SRM-1-3728, Full Album Version at 5:53 minutes)

4. One Nation Under A Groove - FUNKADELIC (from the September 1978 US LP "One Nation Under A Groove" on Warner Brothers BSK 3209, Full Album version at 7:27 minutes)  

5. Bustin' Loose - CHUCK BROWN & THE SOUL SEARCHERS (from the January 1979 US LP "Bustin' Loose" on Source Records SOR-076, Full Album Version at 7:41 minutes)

6. I Just Want To Be (12" Extended Mix) - CAMEO (June 1979 US Promo-Only 12" Single on Chocolate City CCD-20016, 6:21 minutes)

7. Glide - PLEASURE (from the 1979 US LP "Future Now" on Fantasy F-9578, Full Album Version at 6:28 minutes)

8. Behind The Groove – TEENA MARIE (from the March 1980 US LP "Lady T" on Gordy G7-992R1, Full Album Version at 6:03 minutes)

9. More Bounce To The Ounce – ZAPP (from the September 1980 US Debut LP "Zapp" on Warner Brothers BSK 3463, Full Album Version at 9:27 minutes)

10. Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – GAP BAND (from the January 1981 US album "Gap Band III" on Mercury SRM-1-4003, Full Album Version at 5:16 minutes)

11. Atomic Dog – GEORGE CLINTON (December 1982 US 45 on Capitol B-5201, Instrumental B-side Single Version at 4:44 minutes)

The digibook is covered in blood-red velvet with a sort of plastic embossed THE FUNK BOX logo attached on the front and a card track list on the rear. One tiny irritating thing about the otherwise completely exemplary 60-page booklet attached inside is that none of the inside entries tell the song’s actual playing time – you have to refer to the sheet on the back of the box. So you can’t easily tell which is a single edit and which is an album cut (I’ve provided this info in each entry above). But what is brill are the STEPHEN IVORY intro and song-by-song history/explanations – each entry with just that right touch of discography detail, scene-setting background and lingo-wit. 2 Live Crew and Public Enemy have sampled the sex-pot moaning of "Jungle Fever" by The Chakachas while everyone from Heavy D to Pharcyde have plundered the J.B.s doing "Pass The Peas” – info like that which brings this genre into today. 

A huge draw is going to be the stunning Remastered Audio by a fave Engineer whose name I actually seek out – SUHA GUR. He's had his name on loads of Universal and Hip-O Select quality reissues including swathes of the Motown catalogue and the "Gold" 2CD compilations. When you clap ears on say the seven-minute album cut of Barry White giving it some Walrus of Love in his "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby" song – the Audio will blow you away – clear, ballsy, none too amped for the sake of it – just full-on and thrillingly present. Time and time again as you remember stuff you’d forgotten, the audio just keeps on whomping you with its quality.

But it's also the clever choices - take the Bobby Byrd cut which an extended variant of 4:42 minutes that turned up on a now long-forgotten James Brown-related CD compilation in 1988 - instead of giving you the dated false live roaring voices of the single - you get an undubbed cut that is quite literally the definition of Funky Nirvana. The Marvin Gaye cut from his hugely influential "Trouble Man" soundtrack is ""T" Plays It Cool" - probably the best instrumental cut on the album. Speaking of influential non-vocal sides, DJs quickly flipped the rather ordinary "I Wrote A Simple Song" by former Let It Be Beatles and Sticky Fingers Stones sidekick Billy Preston, only to find gold on the flipside - a 4:07-minute piece of clavinet synth Funk called "Outa-Space". It's the link between Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" Funk and all the way back "Green Onions" almost. 

The Cymande track "The Message" had its positivity featured on the premier US R&B TV program "Soul Train" where it became an anthem for the times and deep in the second side of a sappy "Mahogany" soundtrack was Jermaine Jackson's deeply cool "Erucu" - another DJ find - like that of Jimmy Castor. And those full-on album versions are fabulous - Bobby Womack with The New Birth on "I Can Understand It", JB giving it seven-minutes of "The Payback", Aaron Neville with The Meters and Chaka with Rufus telling us to "Get Into Something Good". I've reviewed the Patrice Rushen album "Shout It Out" where "The Hump" resides - her still only 24 and playing like a brother twice her years. Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, Bar-Kays, Funkadelic, The Gap Band and Bohannon – great choices and it just keeps on keeping on like that, to the butt-waddling finish...

"The Funk Box" has been deleted years now, as is every title on Hip-O and Hip-O Select - all sought after and pricey into the bargain. But sometimes, these reissue company’s just get it 'so right'. And this smooth operator is one of those. 

You may have to pay for it, but I'd say, it's worth a shell out just to get that 'More Bounce To Your Ounce" sounding and looking this good...