"Session Guitar Star" by REGGIE YOUNG [Various Artists] (January 2019 Ace Records CD Compilation - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Featuring "Stranger in My Own Home Town" by ELVIS PRESLEY
From his 1970 Album "Back In Memphis" on RCA Victor Records 

"...Meet Me In Church..."

Despite there being about 3 or 4 clunkers on this CD compilation (in my not-so-humble opinion) - the others are all so damn good, I'm going to resist dropping that final star and keep it a full five. Why? Because this nimble-fingered US contributor (Reggie Young) deserves his hour in the sun and your dosh/attention. Some background first as to why I think this is a properly great Ace Records release (aren't they all you might say)...

In December 2018, Missouri's Reggie Young was a sprightly 82 and yet its odds on that you've never heard of the guy or his sweet guitar picking style and contributions. Or have you? Ace Records UK put out his first official solo album called (not surprisingly) "Forever Young" in May 2017 on Ace CDCHD 1500 (Barcode 029667079822) - a 7-Track CD album of Soul-Rock instrumentals in the vein of J.J. Cale meets Dan Penn meets George Benson - a combo many would gladly scorch their unmentionables to acquire. Actually, the album’s good rather than being great, but it still exudes class.

Anyway, in my review of that late beginning for Reggie Young, I listed a 20-song resume of his work - seriously famous tunes by people like Elvis Presley and Dusty Springfield – all showcasing his knack of playing the right part at just the right time. And lo and behold, from that Hall of Fame potpourri of Soul, Rock and Beat (covering a six-decade career) - some of those name-checks have turned up here. Nice! Let's pick up that Fender and get to church people...

UK released 25 January 2019 - "Session Guitar Star" by REGGIE YOUNG [featuring Various Artists] on Ace Records CDCHD 1537 (Barcode 029667093323) is a CD compilation offering 24-Tracks from 1956 through to 2010 (79:55 minutes):

1. Slip, Slip, Slippin' In - EDDIE BOND and HIS STOMPERS

2. Carol - BILL BLACK'S COMBO

3. A Touch Of The Blues - BOBBY BLAND

4. Dream Baby - JERRY and REGGIE

5. I'm Movin' On - THE BOX TOPS

6. The Champion Pt. 1 - WILLIE MITCHELL

7. Meet Me in Church - SOLOMON BURKE

8. Chicken Crazy - JOE TEX

9. In The Pocket - KING CURTIS and THE KINGPINS (some copies simply credit The Kingpins)

10. More Love - JAMES CARR

11. Don't Forget About Me - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD

12. Stranger in My Own Home Town - ELIVIS PRESLEY

13. I Wanna Roo You - JACKIE De SHANNON

14. Drift Away - DOBIE GRAY

15. Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life) - SONNY CURTIS

16. Victim of Life's Circumstances - DELBERT McCLINTON

17. Lover Please - BILLY SWAN

18. Morning Glory - JAMES and BOBBY PURIFY

19. Cocaine - J.J. CALE

20. I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink - MERLE HAGGARD

21. The Highwayman - THE HIGHWAYMEN [Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson]

22. Griselda - NATALIE MERCHANT

23. Whenever You Come Around - LITTLE MILTON

24. Where Do We Go from Here - WAYLON JENNINGS

From the 1956 pure Rockabilly of "Slip, Slip, Slippin' In" by Eddie Bond & His Stompers through to late soul from Little Milton's "Whenever You Come Around" (2002 on Malaco Records) - you're hit with class over and over again. Interesting Beat instrumentals turn up in the form of a Chuck Berry cover of "Carol" at the hands of Bill Black's Combo and Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby" by our hero and his mate Jerry 'Satch' Arnold trading as Jerry and Reggie (1964 on M.O. Records). Written by Curtis Ousley and Bobby Womack, King Curtis and The Kingpins give us a stunning Funky B-side in the shape of "In The Pocket" - the flip to "Ode To Billy Joe" in September 1967 on Atco 6516.  This is the kind of head-jerking brass-punching guitar-groove that sends my saggy ass into raptures. Throw in James Carr and the gorgeous righteous Southern Soul of "More Love" and even James & Bobby Purify proving they still had a way with a tune in 1975's "Morning Glory" and Soul Music is never far from your ears.

Only when it gets to the truly cheesy rot that is "Rock 'n Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)" by Sonny Curtis (Track 15) and a weedy Delbert McClinton effort from 1975 alongside the vastly overrated "Highwayman" LP project with Nelson, Jennings and Cash - does the track run go off the boil. The Natalie Merchant contribution "Griselda" comes from her lesser-seen "Leave Your Sleep" 2010 CD on Nonesuch – a compilation that concentrates on children’s poetry (Reg coughs up a sweet solo). It all ends on a Waylon Jennings Country boogie from 1987 - "Where Do We Go From Here" – Reggie’s guitar (accompanied by Jim Horn's brass, Jim Horn of Rolling Stones fame) giving the bopper real bottom end. I’ll even forgive the overly hissy Solomon Burke song "Meet Me In Church" because what it lacks in fidelity – it tramples all-comers in sheer Soulfulness and feel.

Throw in great mastering from DUNCAN COWELL, a fabulous jam-packed 36-page booklet that out-details this detailed review (courtesy of BOB DUNHAM - includes loads of affectionate recollections from Reggie) and you're on a winner. The only Audio dull moment for me was the wimpy volume to the 1968 Stereo Box Tops cut of Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On" from their "No Stop" LP on Bell Records - for some reason it has no oomph at all. But any CD compilation that sports Dobie Gray's masterful take on Mentor Williams "Drift Away", J.J. Cale's "Cocaine", the King's yeah baby "Stranger In My Own Home Town" (Elvis getting funky) and Jackie DeShannon's lovely cover of Van Morrison's "I Wanna Roo You" gets my vote. And there's nearly 80 minutes of it too.

"...You know a melody can move me...and when I'm feeling blue...the guitar is coming through to sooth me..." – Dobie Gray sang on 1973's fantastic Soul-Rock single "Drift Away" - a tune Rodders would cover so well on his "Atlantic Crossing" album in 1975. Reggie Young is one of the reasons why we felt that way. Gimme the beat boys and free my soul indeed...

"Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2016 Ace CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Don't Let Me Down..."

I'm a huge fan of England's Ace Records and their stunning CD compilations (who isn't). And you look at the premise here - Soul Artists doing their take on the Fabs - and surely the results will be electrifying and funky as a gnat's chuffer.

But then you play "Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison" by VARIOUS ARTISTS and song after song just feels wrong. Nothing ever ignites. It's a strange truth but The Beatles (as soulful as their music was) - doesn't translate to Soul. The Isley Brothers doing Carole King or Stephen Stills - Love Sculpture doing Ray Charles - even Grand Funk doing "Some Kind Of Wonderful" by The Soul Brothers Six - these crossovers all work. And of course you could fill box sets full of other covers that add to the original and even bring out more. But no such luck here - here you get one ill-chosen track after another.

The 16-page booklet is (as always) a thing of beauty - classy photos of Screamin' Jaw Hawkins doing "A Hard Day's Night", Mary Well's tackling "Do You Want To Know A Secret" and Dionne Warwick having a go at "We Can Work It Out". 

Released 30 September 2016 in the UK (October 2016 in the USA) - there are rare picture sleeves - 7" single label repros (RCA for Nina Simone, Capitol for Junior Parker, EMI America for Gary U.S. Bonds) with top-quality mastering from Duncan Cowell and a generous 22-track playing time for Ace CDCHD 1483 (Barcode 029667077026) of 77:54 minutes.

1. Eleanor Rigby - Aretha Franklin

2. Dear Prudence - The 5 Stairsteps

3. Got To Get You Into My Life - Earth, Wind And Fire

4. Do You Want To Know A Secret - Mary Wells

5. The Fool On The Hill - Four Tops

6. Lovely Rita - Fats Domino

7. Here Comes The Sun - Nina Simone

8. Ob La Di Ob La Da - Arthur Conley

9. A World Without Love - The Supremes

10. Tomorrow Never Knows - Junior Parker

11. Don't Let Me Down - Randy Crawford

12. With A Little Help From My Friends - The Undisputed Truth

13. A Hard Day's Night - Screamin' Jay Hawkins

14. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window - Ike & Tina Turner

15. For No One - Maceo & All The King's Men

16. It's Only Love - Gary U.S. Bonds

17. We Can Work It Out - Dionne Warwick

18. Hey Jude - The Temptations

19. In My Life - Boyz II Men

20. Savoy Truffle - Ella Fitzgerald

21. Something - Isaac Hayes

22. Let It Be - Bill Withers

But little of this takes away from the interpretations offered here that 9 times out of 10 feel like half-hearted cash-ins a very popular band of the time. Better is the "Hard To Handle" set in this series where Black Artists have a go at Otis Redding – a combo that actually does work.

In the meantime – if you’re tempted by "Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison" - I'd try to get a listen to the CD first before committing...

"Losers Weepers" by ETTA JAMES (October 2011 Ace/Kent-Soul 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Let Wisdom Be Your Hammer…Let Progress Be Your Aim…" 

2011 has turned out to be a bumper year for fans of the American Soul legend Etta James. February saw the "Who's Blue" Kent Soul compilation give us 24 elusive tracks on Chess and Cadet Records spanning 1961 to 1976 - whilst 31 October saw the first official release on CD of "Call My Name" - a criminally forgotten Cadet Records LP from 1967. I’ve reviewed both of them. 

And now this - another exclusive - a first-time-on-CD outing for a rare vinyl LP from 1970 on Cadet records – and imbued with copious amounts of bonus tracks relevant to the period. Here are the weepy details…

UK released Monday 31 Oct 2011 (15 Nov 2011 in the USA) - "Losers Weepers" by ETTA JAMES on Ace Records/Kent Soul CDKEND 361 (Barcode 029667236126) breaks down as follows (74:57 minutes):

1. Take Out Some Insurance

2. I Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good

3. I Think It’s You

4. Someone

5. Losers Weepers

6. Weepers

7. You’re The Fool

8. Hold Back The Tears 

9. For All We Know

10. Look At The Rain

11. Ease Away A Little Bit At A Time

Tracks 1 to 11 are the Stereo LP "Losers Weepers" - released December 1970 in the USA on Cadet Records LPS-847

Track 12 is "The Love Of My Man" – a 1970 USA 7" single on Chess 2100 [A]

Tracks 13 to 17 are "Tighten Up Your Own Thing", "Quick Reaction And Satisfied", "Nothing From Nothing Leaves Nothing", "Sound Of Love" and "The Man I Love" are all from the album "Funk" – released January 1970 in the USA on Cadet Records LPS-847

Track 18 is "I Found A Love" – a 1972 USA 7" single on Chess 2125 [A]

Tracks 19 and 20 are "W.O.M.A.N." and "Tell It Like It Is" - are the A&B Sides of a 1972 USA 7" single on Chess 2128

Track 21 is "Never My Love" – a 1973 recording Previously Unreleased until the 2000 3CD set "The Chess Box"

Track 22 is "I Never Meant To Love Him" – a 1973 recording Previously Unreleased until the 1993 2CD set "The Essential Etta James"

[Note: Tracks 12, 14, 17 to 20 are MONO - all others are STEREO]

This CD release will allow fans to sequence almost all of the 7 x 7" singles released off and around the 2 x 1970 albums - "Losers Weepers" and "Funk":

1. Tighten Up Your Own Thing [13] b/w What Fools We Mortals Be [Not on here] on Cadet 5664 (1970)

2. Sound Of Love [16] b/w When I Stop Dreaming [Not on here] on Cadet 5671 (1970)

3. Losers Weepers [5] b/w Weepers [6] on Cadet 5676 (November 1970)

4. The Love Of My Man [12] b/w Nothing From Nothing Leaves Nothing [15] on Chess CH 2100 (1971)

5. I Think It’s You [3] b/w Take Out Some Insurance [1] on Chess CH 2112 (1971)

6. I Found A Love [18] b/w Nothing From Nothing Leaves Nothing [15] on Chess CH 2125 (May 1972)

7. W.O.M.A.N. [19] b/w Tell It Like It Is [20] on Chess CH 2128 (1972)

The first thing that hits you is the GORGEOUS SOUND QUALITY. Remastered by DUNCAN COWELL at Sound Mastering in London - I've sung this engineer's praises before - but again - he's outdone himself here. There's amazing clarity on every song - clean Stereo separation too and a huge presence on instruments - especially the brass and percussion. It's a blast from start to finish. The 12-page colour booklet is crammed with photos of 7" singles (most of the titles listed above), Cash Box magazine adverts and reviews from December 1970 - as well as a superbly detailed set of liner notes by noted writer and Soul lover DENNIS GARVEY. Like it’s predecessor ("Call My Name" on CDKEND 360) – this is a typically classy effort...

Highlights for me are the slow Soul of "I Think It's You" and the cover of the Jackie Edwards nugget "Look At The Rain". It’s also cool to get 5 tracks off the rare "Funk" album – especially the zippy 'message' soul of "Tighten Up Your Own Thing" (lyrics above). The bluesy "Nothing From Nothing Leaves Nothing" is hardly 'funk', but it’s a proper Soul gem. An organ-led slowy, it's a pleader written by Johnny Morrisette and hardly surprising it got used as a 45-side - twice. The cover of The Bee Gees "Sound Of Love" is the only real clunker for me - it feels a little forced and too melodramatic – a little too pop for Etta. But the non-album single "W.O.M.A.N." is fab sexy Soul – even in Mono. At seventy-five minutes, there are loads of goodies on here...plenty to satisfy.

To sum up - once again Ace Records have delivered on all fronts - keeping the great lady's recorded legacy alive for future generations to savour and enjoy. A job well done...

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by CHICKEN SHACK (2006 Columbia/Blue Horizon 3CD Reissue - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve…" 

Features the 1970 album "Accept"

Across its 56 tracks and 3CDs - this fantastic February 2006 UK and EUROPE release "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by CHICKEN SHACK on Columbia/Blue Horizon 82876734942 (Barcode 828767349428) offers potential buyers a huge amount of British Blues Rock for not a lot of dosh. You get 4 full albums worth from 1968 to 1970 - a slew of non-LP 7" singles and their rare B-sides - and even 2 Previously Unreleased songs.

The first generation original master tapes were digitally transferred and remastered by DUNCAN COWELL at Sound Mastering in London and overseen by label Supremo MIKE VERNON. And as usual with all the Blue Horizon reissues - the sonic results are just stunning. Every track is clear, warm and fresh sounding. And with each of Chicken Shack's original British vinyl issues pushing £80 to £100 a throw (if you can actually find them in playable condition) - this is a welcome release. Here are the one hundred ton chickens and the roosters in the farmyard:

Disc 1 (74:16 minutes):

1. It's Okay With Me Baby (Christine Perfect song)

2. When My Left Eye Jumps (Willie Dixon song, Buddy Guy cover)

Tracks 1 & 2 are the A&B-side of the band's 1st UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-3157 released January 1968 - both songs were non-album with Christine Perfect Lead Vocals on the A and Stan Webb on the B-side (the flipside is a song closely associated with Buddy Guy).

3. The Letter (B.B. King cover)

4. Lonesome Whistle Blues (Freddie King cover)

5. When The Train Comes Back (Christine Perfect song)

6. San-Ho-Zay (Freddie King cover)

7. King Of The World (John Lee Hooker cover)

8. See See Baby (Freddie King cover) [Side 2]

9. First Time I Met The Blues (Eurreal "Little Brother" Montgomery cover)

10. Webbed Feet (Stan Webb song)

11. You Ain't No Good (Christine Perfect)

12. What You Did Last Night (Stan Webb song)

Tracks 3 to 12 are their debut UK album "Forty Blue Fingers Freshly Packed & Ready To Serve" released July 1968 on Blue Horizon S 7-63203 in Stereo

13. Hey Baby (see 20 below)

14. Baby's Got Me Crying (Stan Webb song)

15. The Right Way Is My Way (Stan Webb song)

16. Get Like You Used To Be (Stan Webb song)

17. Pony And Trap (Stan Webb song)

18. Tell Me (Howlin' Wolf cover)

19. A Woman Is The Blues (Stan Webb/Christine Perfect song)

Tracks 14 to 19 are Side 1 of their 2nd studio album "O.K. Ken?" released February 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63209 in Stereo (Side 2 is on Disc 2)

20. When The Train Comes Back

NOTE: "When The Train Comes Back" and "Hey Baby" (Track 13) are the A&B-sides of their 3rd UK 7" single released 1968 on Blue Horizon 57-3146 and both songs are non-album. There is a version of "When The Train Comes Back" on the "Forty Fresh Fingers..." LP but it's different to the single release - the 7" version pushes the brass section more into the mix.

Disc 2 (71:52 minutes):

1. Worried About My Woman

2. Six Nights In Seven

Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of their 2nd UK 7" single released September 1968 on Blue Horizon 57-3143 - both non-album.

NOTE: Track 1 is the 7" single version that features what you would call a 'guitar' version of the track with Webb's guitar work to the fore. However, Track 19 is the 'album' version of "Worried About My Woman" - wittily tagged with the word "Still" in front of it because although it's the same song - the version is very different. It features Paul Raymond's Organ work far more to the fore of the mix - almost Georgie Fame and The Blues Flames in its feel - and a far louder Webb guitar - he rocks like a mother on this one - fantastic!

3. I Wanna See My Baby (Stan Webb song)

4. Remington Ride (Stan Webb song)

5. Fishing In Your River (Aaron Walker cover)

6. Mean Old World (Herb Remington, Hank Penny cover)

7. Sweet Sixteen (Big Joe Turner cover)

Tracks 3 to 7 are Side 2 of their 2nd UK album "O.K. Ken?" (as per Disc 1)

8. I'd Rather Go Blind

9. Night Life

Tracks 8 and 9 are the A&B-sides of their 4th UK 7" single released May 1969 on Blue Horizon 57-3153. Both tracks were non-album at the time - the A-side is an Etta James cover - the B a Willie Nelson cover

10. The Road Of Love (Clarence Carter cover)

11. La Ma, I'm Cryin' (Freddie King cover)

12. Evelyn (Stan Webb song - Instrumental)

13. Reconsider Baby (Lowell Fulson cover)

14. Weekend Love (Clarence Carter cover)

15. Midnight Hour (Clarence Brown cover) [Side 2]

16. Tears In The Wind (Stan Webb song)

17. Horse & Cart (Stan Webb song)

18. The Way It Is (Stan Webb song)

19. Still Worried About My Woman (Stan Webb song) [see Note on 1 & 2]

20. Anji (Davey Graham cover)

Tracks 10 to 20 are their 3rd UK studio album "100 Ton Chicken" released March 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63218 in Stereo

Note: "Tears In The Wind" was also their 5th UK 7” single released September 1969 on Blue Horizon 57-3160. Its non-album B-side is "The Things You Put Me Through" – Track 3 on Disc 3

Disc 3 (51:08 minutes):

1. Smartest Girl In Town (Stan Webb song)

2. Hideaway (Freddie King cover)

Tracks 1 and 2 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED - recorded May 1969 with the line-up of Stan Webb (Guitar), Paul Raymond (Organ), Andy Silvester (Bass) and David Bidwell (Drums) featured on both studio outtakes.

3. The Things You Put Me Through

Tracks 3 is the non-album B-side to the UK 7” single of "Tears In The Wind" (Track 16 on Disc 2)

4. Diary Of Your Life (Stan Webb song)

5. Pocket (Stan Webb song)

6. Never Ever (Stan Webb/Paul Raymond song)

7. Sad Clown (Stan Webb /Paul Raymond song)

8. Maudie (Stan Webb /Paul Raymond song)

9. Telling Your Fortune (Stan Webb song)

10. Tired Eyes (Stan Webb song) [Side 2]

11. Some Other Time (Stan Webb /Paul Raymond song)

12. Going Round (Stan Webb /Paul Raymond song)

13. Andalucian Blues (Stan Webb /Paul Raymond song)

14. You Knew You Did You Did (Stan Webb song)

15. She Didn't Use Her Loaf (Stan Webb /Paul Raymond song)

Tracks 4 to 15 are "Accept" - their 4th and last album for Blue Horizon released June 1970 on S 7-63861 in Stereo

Track 16 "Maudie" is the non-album A-side to their 6th UK 7" single released January 1970 on Blue Horizon 57-3168

NOTES:

Track 13 "Andalucian Blues" is the B-side to "Maudie" their 6th UK 7" single

Track 7 "Sad Clown" and Track 10 "Tired Eyes" make up the A & B side of their 7th and last Blue Horizon 7" single (57-3176) from 1970

This 3CD set allows you to sequence all 14 tracks on their seven UK Blue Horizon singles

Featuring Stan Webb (Guitar & Lead Vocals), Christine Perfect (Keyboards and Lead Vocals), Paul Raymond (Piano), Andy Silvester (Bass) and Dave Bidwell (Drums) - England's CHICKEN SHACK was always about the blues and the bar-brawling boogie that came out of that tradition (they took their name from a 50's R&B tune by Amos Milburn). Mixing raucous cover versions with equally impressive originals, the first 3 albums featured shared vocals/song-writing credits between blues-nutter Stan Webb and a young Female Singer of the Year, Christine Perfect. (Christine married John McVie in 1969 and later joined Fleetwood Mac - retaining the McVie surname to this day).

As you can see from the track lists provided above - the first album is a fest of the Kings - B.B. and Freddie with some John Lee Hooker thrown in. These are allied with an impressive quad showing of Stan Webb and Christine Perfect originals (two each). "See See Baby" is just fantastic - the great mixture of rocking Blues done by Blues enthusiasts feeling it in every corpuscle. By album two Webb has firmly taken over the songwriting reins with strong Bluesy R'n'B like "Baby's Got Me Crying" sounding not unlike John Mayall does Buddy Guy via B.B. King.

The Shacks albums also featured guest Sax work from Johnny Almond and Paul Raymond and his Organ/Piano work came on board from "100 Ton Chicken" onwards. The music is infectious blues based rock with the occasional funky moment (the instrumental "Evelyn" is a good example). What is surprising is how little interest was shown in their rocking "Accept" album from mid 1970 - only released later that year in the States on the back of a tour with savoy Brown. Mainly featuring Webb originals co-written with Paul Raymond - I often think it's a bit of a lost 1970 classic like "Kiln House" or the Humble Pie debut on A&M. Check out the blistering rocking on "Perfect" that then slows down (wicked). Stan Webb kept Chicken Shack going after Blue Horizon to do two more rawk albums for the Deram label - "Imagination Lady" in 1972 and "Unlucky Boy" in 1973 - both of which I love.

If I was to say there was a downside - it's the lack of unreleased material. And it's a damn shame that these four Chicken Shack albums didn't receive the Fleetwood Mac Blue Horizon Box Set treatment - I would love to have seen all of them in Repro Card Sleeves (gatefolds in some cases) - each topped up with bonus tracks. But alas...

As it stands "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by CHICKEN SHACK is another jewel in the Blue Horizon crown. Never less than brilliant on any of the discs - and at a few squid above a ten-spot - this superb release is a steal, a deal, sale of the century etc...