"The Best Of The Chi-Lites: The Original Brunswick Recordings 1969-1976" by THE CHI-LITES – Including Singles and Album Tracks featuring Eugene Record (June 1987 Original and February 2004 Reissue (with Different Artwork) UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation with Adam Skeaping Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I Found Sunshine..."

When Ace Records of the UK started issuing CDs back in the late Eighties (much to the excitement of collectors)  – this peach on CDKEN 911 was amongst their first vanguard of titles (originally released June 1987). I bought their Jackie Wilson CD compilation too - "Reet Petite" from May 1986 on Ace CDCH 902. I purchased both because they boasted astonishing remastered sound direct from original Brunswick master tapes. 

So why lose a winner to time because Ace has clearly decided to upgrade this early CHI-LITES CD compilation gem (the old artwork is pictured on the rear inlay - see photo above) by reissuing it in June 2004 with a different sleeve and better booklet (the same amazing Audio has been used). So here is the power to the people…

Re-issued February 2004 (see PS below) – "The Best Of The Chi-Lites: The Original Brunswick Recordings 1969-1976" by THE CHI-LITES on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEN 911 (Barcode 029667291125) breaks down as follows (74:18 minutes): 

1. Give It Away (January 1969 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55398, A-side)

2. Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was (July 1969 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55414, A-side)

3. 24 Hours Of Sadness (February 1970 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55426, A-side)

4. I Like Your Lovin' (Do You Like Mine) (July 1970 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55438, A-side)

5. Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So) (November 1970 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55442, A-side)

6. (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People (April 1971 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55450, June 1971 UK 45-single on MCA Records MU 1138, A-side)

7. Have You Seen Her (October 1971 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55462, Number 1 R&B hit, December 1971 UK 45-single on MCA Records MU 1146, A-side)

8. Oh Girl (April 1972 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55471, Number 1 R&B hit, April 1972 UK 45-single on MCA Records MU 1156, A-side)

9. The Coldest Days Of My Life (July 1972 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55478, July 1972 UK 45-single on MCA Records MU 1162)

10. We Need Order (December 1972 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55489, December 1972 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 1, A-side)

11. A Letter To Myself (February 1973 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55491, March 1973 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 2, A-side)

12. Stoned Out Of My Mind (July 1973 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55500, September 1973 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 7, A-side)

13. I Found Sunshine (November 1973 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55503, June 1974 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 12, A-side)

14. Homely Girl (February 1974 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55505, March 1974 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 9, A-side)

15. Too Good To Be Forgotten (May 1974 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55512, B-side to "There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At The Conference Table)" in the USA - September 1974 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 13, A-side in the UK)

16. There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At The Conference Table) (May 1974 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55512, B-side to "Too Good To Be Forgotten" in the USA - September 1974 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 13, B-side in the UK)

17. Toby (January 1975 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55515, January 1975 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 15, A-side)

18. It's Time For Love (October 1975 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55520, August 1975 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 25, A-side)

19. You Don't Have To Go (July 1976 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55528, June 1976 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 34, A-side)

The 1987 original UK CD (as I recall) had a basic inlay – the 2004 reissue features great liner notes for noted Soul expert TONY ROUNCE in a 12-page upgrade – a man whose name has turned up on countless Ace and Edsel reissues. This time the track-by-track text is peppered with those great US Brunswick singles, UK demos and Trade Adverts. But once again what really grabs you is the audio - fantastically good remasters full of detail and huge presence – Ultimate Sound from original Brunswick Tapes done by ADAM SKEAPING. As most fans will know the Brunswick label famously had the talents of the 5-time Grammy winner BRUCE SWEDIEN as their Audio Engineer (later worked on Michael Jackson's "Thriller") and man does it show. 

Take a song like "We Need Order" – a No. 13 Billboard R&B hit in the States (not so in the UK) – it's a mixed tempo song – slinky one second – fast the next. The remaster brings out the fabulous rhythm and layered vocals and brass. The whole run sounds truly amazing and makes for a serious audio nostalgia fest that will have more than a few olden types like me reaching for the Kleenex before the kids see.

Every one of the 19 entries detailed above charted on the American Billboard R&B listings (they had 8 in the UK with "Have You Seen Her" having been a hit twice in 1972 and 1975). The first five tracks were US only 45s - tremendous Chicago-based Soul/R&B - the first British 'Brunswick' 7" single was the seriously synth-funky "(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People)". 

Of course the big secret with THE CHI-LITES was the songwriting talent of EUGENE RECORD - even now in 2024 - you forget how good his songs are and why they were so popular. The talking/strings tunes like "A Letter To Myself" and "The Coldest Days Of My Life" border on the cheesy for sure and yet they tug on the heart strings with ease. 

"Have You Seen Her", "Oh Girl" and "Homely Girl" are gorgeous Seventies Soul and now bona fide classics (covered by many in tribute). And while I love the huge synth intro to "(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People" and the Beyoncé-sampled brass of "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" – my real poison on here has always been the fabulous "It's Time For Love" from 1975 – which in my book should have been a Number One. For me it encompasses everything that was so dash-darn good about 70ts Soul - Can You Dig It Y'all! Yes! I Do Brother!

There are lots of cheap CHI-LITES compilations (some with re-recordings bearing the same title) - but I urge you to look no further (seek this Kent Soul compilation out). A winner then and now…

PS: Rather confusingly both the 1987 and 2004 CDs for this release use exactly the same catalogue number CDKEN 911 – and worse – the same barcode 029667291125. I mention this because a seller will use the Barcode to locate the right issue for sale. You can therefore get the 1987 original issue with the lesser liner notes instead of the 2004 version with the upgraded booklet – so 'check' with your buyer that it is the 2004 version you're getting (the artwork presently showing on Amazon with the Kent Soul logo in the top right hand corner). 

I have included Front, Inner and Rear artwork photos above for the 2004 reissue so you know what to look for...

"Machine Gun Etiquette" by THE DAMNED (2007 Ace/Chiswick 'Hip Pocket' CD Remaster in Card Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Just For You...Here's A Love Song..."

Two albums in ("Damned Damned Damned" in February 1977 and "Music For Pleasure" in November 1977) - and with enough personnel chopping and changing and displaying of frazzled dangly bits to embarrass a British Royal Family orgy - THE DAMNED dropped LP number three in November 1979 on the little but mighty independent Chiswick Records (a UK-only release).

But not many seemed to notice let alone be thrilled by its sheer bleached bravura - peaking at a modest No. 31 in the UK and not charting at all Stateside (an import there) when The Clash were tearing up all and sundry on the 2nd British Invasion - championed by a getting clued-up musical press.

Still snotty and insubordinate and preceded by two storming great 7" singles in "Love Song" and "Smash It Up" - "Machine Gun Etiquette" should have done better in New Wave Britain - never mind a worried and dubious America who barely saw any imports. But the album was and is a tad overlooked - a forgotten gob in the mouth of a grateful nation. Time to rectify the public's myopia and sorry lack of good taste. Here are the noisy bullets...

UK released October 2007 - "Machine Gun Etiquette" by THE DAMNED on Ace Records/Chiswick CDHP 027 (Barcode 029667028523) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 11-track LP and is part of Ace's 'Hip Pocket' Series of CD Reissues sporting 6" Card Repro Artwork (including the album's original inner sleeve) and plays out as follows (36:50 minutes):

1. Love Song

2. Machine Gun Etiquette

3. I Just Can't Be Happy Today

4. Melody Lee

5. Anti-Pope

6. These Hands

7. Plan 9 Channel [Side 2]

8. Noise, Noise, Noise

9. Looking At You

10. Liar

11. Smash It Up Part 1

12. Smash It Up (Part 2)

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 3rd studio album "Machine Gun Etiquette" - released 2 November 1979 in the UK only on Chiswick Records CWK 3009. Produced by ROGER ARMSTRONG and THE DAMNED - the LP peaked at No. 31 on the UK album charts.

THE DAMNED were:

DAVE VANIAN [David Lett] - Vocals

CAPTAIN SENSIBLE [Raymond Burns] - Guitar

ALGY WARD [Alasdair Ward] - Bass

RAT SCABIES [Christopher Millar] - Drums

The 'Hip Pocket' card repro artwork reproduces the original British LP sleeve as was with its 'cartoon' inner sleeve (the CD has all the writing credits). The Remaster was carried out by ADAM SKEAPING at Sound Mastering and like the LP itself - ROCKS like a monster.

"Ladies and Gentleman. How do!" After the dialogue and snarling jeers from the boys - the sheer sonic assault of "Love Song" (2:21 minutes) is followed by the equally short and quarrelsome album title track "Machine Gun Etiquette" where the band sounds not unlike a boozed-up Motorhead wanting to have words in your shelllike. After the pasting the "Music For Pleasure" album received - the sheer power of the reformed band on the two openers literally screams 'we're back!'. And just when you were getting used to another nosebleed - you then get something more sophisticated but just as good - the Stranglers-tight "I Just Can't Be Happy Now" which Chiswick smartly released as a 7" single in the UK on Chiswick CHIS 120 and were rewarded with a No. 46 chart placing. "Melody Lee" is another brilliant album track as is the rhythm-rattling shakedown of "Anti-Pope" Side 1 ends with "These Hands" - a swirling laughing fairground organ song about 'turning blue' - complete with its high-heels on the pavement ending.

Side 2 opens with the riffing and strangely melodic "Plan 9 Channel 7" which at 5:09 minutes feels like Prog Rock after what went before. Chiswick put out "Noise, Noise, Noise" as the B-side to "Love Song" as far back as April 1979 on Chiswick CHIS 112 on red vinyl - a great stomper with echoed vocals about 'noises for heroes' and massive guitar from Sensible. You'd have to argue that their cover of MC5's "Looking At You" (from their 1970 "Back In The USA" LP) is one of those cover versions that rivals and at times exceeds the original and that guitar-playing throughout its 5:08 minutes is absolutely astonishing. The LP then sucker punches the listener with two fantastic Punk groovers - the 'never tell the truth' of "Liar" and the two parts of "Smash It Up". Chiswick used the faster part of "Smash It Up" as an A-side on another red vinyl 45 just before the album arrived - Chiswick CHIS 116 in October 1979 - and were rewarded with a No. 35 chart placing. A great ending to a great album.

I should mention that other issue. The November 2004 '25th Anniversary Edition' Enhanced CD Reissue and Remaster of "Machine Gun Etiquette" on Ace/Chiswick CDWIKD 250 has 9 bonus tracks - the six non-album 7" single B-sides, three new Previously Unreleased Audio Versions of key album tracks and a Previously Unseen Video of "Plan 9, Channel 7" (use Barcode 029667425025 in Amazon's search bar if you want that issue). And of course with those extra goodies - it therefore offers better value for money (still available relatively cheaply too). But I'm a sucker for that repro artwork and the album presented 'as is'. It's true this 'Hip Pocket' CD would have been stronger with killer B-sides like "Burglar" from "Smash It Up" and their rattling cover of The Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz" tucked away on the flip-side of "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" - itself one of their strongest efforts. But you pays your money...and...

Besides you gotta love any band with people named 'Captain Sensible' and Rat Scabies'. You know Prince Phillip would approve...

Titles in Ace Records Mid-Price 'Hip Pocket' CD Series of Card Repro Reissues are:

1. DONALD AUSTIN – Crazy Legs (Ace/Westbound CDHP 016, Dec 2006)

2. THE BISHOPS – Cross Cuts (Ace/Chiswick CDWIKM 256, June 2005)

3. HADDA BROOKS – Femme Fatale (Ace CDCHM 1129, Nov 2006)

4. THE CHAMPS – Go, Champs, Go! (Ace CDCHM 1126, Sep 2006)

5. THE DAMNED – Machine Gun Etiquette (Ace/Chiswick CDHP 027, July 2007)

6. THE ESCALATORS [ex Meteors] – Moving Staircases (Ace CDHP 017, Dec 2006)

7. THE EVERLY BROTHERS – The Everly Brothers (Ace CDCHM 1127, Sep 2006)

8. FUNKADELIC – Maggot Brain (Ace/Westbound CDHP 030, Aug 2007)

9. CHUCK HIGGINS – Pachucko Hop (Ace CDHP 024, April 2007)

10. B. B. KING – The Jungle (Ace/Kent CDHP 031, Nov 2007)

11. JOHNNY MOPED – Cycledelic (Ace/Chiswick CDHP 029, Oct 2007)

12. JACKIE LEE – The Duck (Ace/Kent CDHP 032, Dec 2010)

13. LONNIE MACK – The Wham Of That Memphis Man! (Ace CDCHM 1134, Nov 2006)

14. MOTORHEAD – Motorhead [1977 Debut LP] (Ace/Chiswick CDHP 021, Oct 2007)

15. THE OLYMPICS – Something Old, Something New (Ace/Kent CDHP 018, Dec 2006)

16. THE RADIO STARS – Songs For Swinging Lovers (Ace/Chiswick CDWIKM 5, June 2006)

17. THE SONICS – Here Are The Sonics! (Ace/Big Beat CDHP 022, Feb 2007)

18. THE SONICS – The Sonics Boom (Ace/Big Beat CDHP 023, April 2007)

19. ROOSEVELT SYKES [aka 'The Honeydripper'] – Sings The Blues (Ace CDCHM 1132, Nov 2006)

20. VARIOUS – For Dancers Only [Kent's 1st Reissue LP compilation] (Ace/Kent CDHP 019, Feb 2007)

21. VARIOUS – For Dancers Also [Kent's 2nd Reissue LP compilation] (Ace/Kent CDHP 020, April 2007)

22. VARIOUS – Hollywood Rock 'n' Roll [80ts Rockabilly compilation] (Ace CDHP 026, July 2007)

23. VARIOUS – Fool's Gold [70ts Punk compilation] (Ace/Chiswick CDHP 028, August 2007)

24. LINK WRAY – Early Recordings (Ace/Chiswick CDCHM 6, June 2006

25. THE ZOMBIES – Odyssey And Oracle (Ace/Big Beat CDHP 025, June 2007)

JULIA LEE And HER BOY FRIENDS - LP Discography - Referencing “Kansas City Star” The 1995 Bear Family CD Box Set.

"…I Used To Run Away From The Stuff…But Now Somehow…I Can’t Get Enough…"

JULIA LEE And HER BOY FRIENDS
LP Discography Referencing “Kansas City Star”
The May 1995 Box Set On Bear Family BCD 15770 EI (5CDs)

Notes:
15/4 = Track 15, Disc 4
12/3 = Track 12, Disc 3 etc
All albums credit her as JULIA LEE and HER BOY FRIENDS

1. “Party Time” [aka Julia Lee’s Party Time]
1950 USA 10” LP on Capitol H-228 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
3. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
Side 2:
1. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]

2. “Party Time” [aka Julia Lee’s Party Time]
1955 USA 12” Reissue LP on Capitol T-228 [Mono]
[4 Extra Tracks Over The 10” Original, Slightly Different Artwork]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
3. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
5. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]
6. I Was Wrong [11/3]
Side 2:
1. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]
5. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
6. My Man Stands Out [8/4]

3. “The History Of Jazz Volume 2 – The Turbulent ‘Twenties”
1956 Various Artists USA 12” LP on Capitol T-794 [Mono]
1. (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along [24/3]

4. “KC In The 30’s” [Kansas City]
1958 Various Artists USA 12” LP on Capitol T-1057 [Mono]
1. Dragging My Heart Around [19/4]
2. My Sin [9/3]
3. When You’re Smiling [10/3]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]

5. “Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends”
1964 USA LP on Capitol T 2038 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. Dragging My Heart Around [19/4]
3. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
4. Crazy World [21/3]
5. Gotta Gimme What'cha Got [3/2]
6. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
Side 2:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. There Goes My Heart [13/2]
3. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]
5. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
6. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

6. “Tonight’s The Night”
1983 UK LP on Charly R&B Records CRB 1039 [Mono]
(* = Referenced in the BF Discography)
Side 1:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Come On Over To My House [9/1]
4. That's What I Like [15/3 *]
5. Knock Me A Kiss [4/3 *]
6. King Size Papa [16/3]
7. Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff [3/5 *]
8. Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got [3/2]
Side 2:
1. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
2. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
3. Don't Come Too Soon [11/4]
4. All This Beef And Big Ripe Tomatoes [12/5 *]
5. Mama Don't Allow It [1/3]
6. Trouble In Mind [10/1]
7. Take It Or Leave It [14/3]
8. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

7. “Ugly Papa”
1983 Swedish LP on Jukebox Lil JB-603 [Mono, Reissued on CD in 1991 on RBD 603]
Side 1:
1. Do You Want It? [9/4]
2. Dream Lucky Blues [14/1]
3. Lotus Blossom [13/1]
4. Ugly Papa [12/4]
5. Julia's Blues [1/2]
6. If You Hadn't Gone Away (I Wouldn't Be Where I Am) [15/2]
7. Bleeding Hearted Blues [18/2]
8. Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) [17/4]
Side 2:
1. It Won't Be Long [1/5]
2. Decent Woman Blues [18/4]
3. Scream In The Night [5/5]
4. I Know It's Wrong (The Diet Song) [6/5]
5. Bop And Rock Lullaby [24/5]
6. Goin' To Chicago Blues [15/5]
7. King Size Papa [23/5]
8. Scat You Cats [21/5]

8. “Julia Lee And Her Boy Friends”
1983 USA-only LP on PA USA Records PR 9020
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. Draggin My Heart Around [19/4]
3. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
4. Crazy World [21/3]
5. Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got [3/2]
6. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
Side 2:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. There Goes My Heart [13/2]
3. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]
5. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
6. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

9. “A Porter’s Love Song”
1985 Swedish LP on Jukebox Lil JB-614 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. If It’s Good [16/1]
2. When A Woman Loves A Man [4/2]
3. Show Me Missouri Blues [12/1]
4. I’ll Get Along Somehow [6/2]
5. A Porter’s Love Song [7/2]
6. Young Girl’s Blues [11/2]
7. Since I’ve Been With You [9/2]
8. Oh, Marie [5/2]
Side 2:
1. Doubtful Blues [2/3]
2. On My Way Out [12/2]
3. Wise Guys (You’re A Wise Guy) [20/2]
4. All I Ever Do Is Worry [13/3]
5. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) [19/3]
6. Christmas Spirits [23/3]
7. The Glory Of Love [6/4]
8. Charmaine [1/4]

10. “Of Lions And Lambs”
1988 UK LP on Charly R&B Records CRB 1175 [Mono]
(* = Referenced in the BF Discography)
Side 1:
1. When Jennie Does That Lowdown Dance [9/5 *]
2. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]
3. Back Street [aka Living Back Street For You] [19/2]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
5. I Was Wrong [11/3]
6. When A Man Has Two Women [4/5 *]
7. Away From You [5/4 *]
8. You're Gonna Miss It [2/5 *]
Side 2:
1. It Comes In Like A Lion [10/4 *]
2. Lotus Blossom [13/1]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. When Your Lover Has Gone [16/4 *]
5. Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) [17/4]
6. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out [16/2]
7. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
8. I Got News For You [14/5 *]

“The Capitol Recordings” by LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH & SAM BUTERA. A Review Of The 1994 Bear Family 8CD Box Set (With 7”, EP and LP Discographies).

"…Gonna Take A Sentimental Journey…To Renew Old Memories…"

Released September 1994 in Germany, Bear Family’s “The Capitol Recordings” offers up a massive 198 studio and live tracks remastered across 8 CDs - 17 of which are previously unreleased.

The 12” x 12” box houses a 40-page album-sized booklet with comprehensive Billy Vera liner notes, studio photos of all the key musicians and singers, publicity stills from the movies “Hey Boy! Hey Girl!” and “Twist All Night”, a two-page album-covers spread in colour - and a fully detailed Discography at the rear by RICHARD WEIZE and LARRY ZWISOHN. It was produced by VOYLE GILMORE and long-time tape engineer ADAM SKEAPING did the mastering.
The sound quality is everything you would expect from people who love what they’re doing – fabulous and full – especially on the 1960's Stereo versions.

In detail, Bear Family BCD 15776 HI breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 Louis Prima, 27 Tracks, 79:19 minutes
Previously unreleased track - “Much Too Young To Loose My Mind” (23)

Disc 2 Louis Prima, 23 Tracks, 66:35 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks - “The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” (2), “Natural Guy” (3) and “Oh, Marie (Alternate)” (23)

Disc 3 Louis Prima, 26 Tracks, 78:58 minutes
Previously unreleased track – “John Ping Pong” (14)

Disc 4 Louis Prima, 18 Tracks, 68:42 minutes
Previously unreleased track – “Judy (Live At The Sahara)” (9)

Disc 5 Keely Smith, 27 Tracks, 77:13 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks – “I Would Do Most Anything For You” (2), “Rock-A-Doodle-Doo” (4), “All The Things You Are” (15) and “Just As Much” (24)

Disc 6 Keely Smith, 27 Tracks, 73:38 minutes

Disc 7 Sam Butera, 25 Tracks, 57:37 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks – “Seven Out” (5), “The Love Nest” (8), “Put Your Mind At Ease” (9),”Hold Out For Love” (11) and “Dig That Crazy Chick” (14)

Disc 8 Sam Butera, 25 Tracks, 60:32 minutes
Previously unreleased track – “Bugs” (1) and “Ol’ Man River (Alternate)” (25)

You get all tracks for 23 x 7” Extended Plays (“Don’t Let A Memory” by Keely Smith is an exclusive track to that format), 24 x 7” singles (32 sides are non-album) and a whopping 15 full albums worth - with the 1961 set of “Hits Of Louis & Keely” being the only duplication. For those who want exact details, I’ve provided 7”, EP and LP discographies separately that reference the track placing in the box (see PS below). Keely’s duet with Frank Sinatra on “How Are Ya Fixed For Love” and its exclusive B-side “Nothing In Common” are also on here.

Fans of Keely Smith and Sam Butera should note that their 5 albums are all here and in STEREO (the mono mixes are only available now on original vinyl LPs) while the later Prima LPs also featured Keely’s vocal replacement GIA MAIONE. In fact it’s shocking to hear how good the Smith and Butera solo records are – warm and witty and just as effortlessly cool as King Louis.

In 2010, over a ton sterling might seem like a lot of Spondulicks to spend on a box set from 1994, but if you want the best and the deepest on these criminally forgotten geniuses of swing, jazz and fun, then this is the place to go. As with so many of these sumptuous Bear Family’s box sets, “The Capitol Recordings” is a thing of beauty and shows deep respect to entertainers almost too beautiful for this world…

Grade-A as ever boys…recommended.

PS: I've provided 7" single, EP and LP discographies in 3 separate posts in my "Discographies" blog file

“Kansas City Star” by JULIA LEE. A Review of the 1995 Bear Family 5CD Box Set.

"…I Used To Run Away From The Stuff…But Now Somehow…I Can’t Get Enough…"

“Kansas City Star” is a 5CD Box Set by Bear Family Records of Germany (released March 1995) which offers up a huge 109 remastered tracks in chronological release date order (20 are previously unreleased). It covers everything from her 1st rare 78” on the Meritt label in 1927 where she featured as a Duet Vocalist in her brother George’s jazz band - right through to her last recordings in 1957 – privately pressed 45”s on the obscure Foremost label.

Bear Family BCD 15770 EI breaks down as follows…

Disc 1, 22 Tracks, 61:24 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks are - “Wee Baby Blues” (15), “If It’s Good” (16), “I’ve Got A Crush On The Fuller Brush Man” (17), “Two Lovers Have I” (18), “Some Of These Days” (19), “St. Louis Blues” (20), “Shake That Thing” (21) and “Shake It And Break It” (22)

Disc 2, 20 Tracks, 57:47 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks are – “Have You Ever Been Lonely” (8) and “The Curse Of An Aching Heart” (17)

Disc 3, 24 Tracks, 73:53 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks are – “My Sin” [Takes 1, 2 and 3] (6, 7 and 8)

Disc 4, 19 Tracks, 54:50 minutes
Previously unreleased track is – “Marijuana” (3)

Disc 5, 24 Tracks, 62:51 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks are – “Music, Maestro Please” (7), “If I Didn’t Care” (10), “Lazy River” (11), “Can’t Get It Off My Mind” (13), “Kansas City Boogie” (17) and “Love In Bloom” (18)

CONTENT:
This box will allow you to sequence all her 78”s and 45”s (42 entries) on the Meritt, Brunswick, Capitol, Premier, Mercury, Damon and Foremost labels. Her debut 1950 10” LP “Party Time” on Capitol Records and its extended 1955 12” LP equivalent are here in their entirety - as is her 2nd big official album - 1964 ‘s “Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends”.

During the Eighties Charly Records of England and Jukebox Lil of Sweden began to license unreleased Capitol recordings from her 1940s heyday - and along with 78” sides that had never been on album before - they issued 4 LPs between them. You get Charly’s “Tonight’s The Night” (1983) and “Of Lions And Lambs” (1988) and Jukebox Lil’s “Ugly Papa” (1983) and “A Porter’s Love Song” (1985) – all 4 LPs are here in their entirety too.

BOOKLET/SOUND:
The 32-page album-sized booklet features a superb life/music appraisal by noted UK writer BILL MILLAR, while CHARLES J. HADDIX and Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE compiled the very detailed session-by-session Discography. Like most Bear Family booklets of the time, it’s a lovely thing to behold featuring full page black & white shots of Julia in the Capitol Records studio, trade adverts, newspaper clippings, sheet music, repros of those beautiful American 78” labels and so on… And each CD has a different photo with a 78” repro’d on the other side of the single-sheet inlay.

The Disc/Metal Part Transfers have involved great names like WALTER DeVENNE and BOPPIN' BOB JONES - while the mastering was handled by ADAM SKEAPING. Excepting the 4 x 78”s featuring George E. Lee and His Novelty Singing Orchestra from the 1920s (rough sounding), once you hit the Capitol stuff (bulk of what’s on here), the sound quality is amazingly good. Some of the takes have studio chatter at the beginning and end and Disc 1 contains a newly discovered 8-track session from 1947 that is brilliant.

Musically – Julia Lee was a saucy soul – almost all of her songs involved sexual innuendo of some kind, which was both daring for the day and huge fun. Like her Capitol label mate Nellie Lutcher, you only had to hear that great voice and cast an eye on her ample frame – and good things were bound to happen. Julia had Big Joe Turner in her blood and Bessie Smith in her soul (at times compared to her). Her piano playing was good too.

Highlights for me include the salacious and sly lyrics (title above) of “I Didn’t Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song)” which as you can imagine isn't really about a vitamin supplement. There’s also lot of jazz blues on here too – but towards the end of her career – the ‘naughty’ angle had played itself out – and too many of the songs feel like they’re looking for a hit rather than actually being one.

Still – listening to these discs has been a joy for me and a real discovery. I’ve even sequenced the 12-track version of her fabulous “Party Time” album and play it often. Niggles – despite a 2-year search, the 2nd 45 from the Foremost label (Foremost 105) with “Trouble In Mind” and “Saturday Night” was never found – so its not here. And being a luxury box set, it's not cheap as an import...

Julia Lee died in December 1958 aged 56 and right up until the end of her life had been working bars in her beloved Kansas City. Her brother George Ewing who gave Julia her first 78” way back in 1927 died the following year. White boys Dave Dexter of Capitol who championed her and saxophonist Big Dave Cavanaugh who was one of her “Boy Friends” (she and her band were almost always credited as Julia Lee and Her Boy Friends) are long gone too. Thankfully this fabulous box set is here to remember them all in grace and style.

The mighty Bear Family folks - another peach from them and recommended like a life-enhancing tin of Spinach.

PS: I've also reviewed the following Bear Family box sets (with discographies) that may be of interest - Louis Jordan, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison, Freddie King, Ella Mae Morse and Nellie Lutcher.

PPS: for single discs, see also reviews for 2010 CDs from Bobby Charles "See You Later, Alligator" and the "Rocks" series budget sampler "All We Wanna Do Is ROCK".