"Back To The River: More Southern Soul Stories 1961 to 1978" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Tracks by Betty LaVette, Judy Clay, Eddie Floyd, Mabel John, Clarence Carter, The Soul Children, John Fred, Clay Hammond, Don Covay and more (November 2015 UK Ace/Kent Soul 3CD Book Set – Duncan Cowell Remasters – Volume 3 in a Series of 3 – see also Volume 1 "Take Me To The River..." from 2008 and Volume 2 "The Fame Studios Story 1961-1973..." from 2011) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review Along With Nearly 200 Others Is Available in my

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"SOUL GALORE!" 

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Your Guide To The Best CD Reissues and Remasters 

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RATING: ***** 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

Third KENTSOUL 3CD Box Set in a Series of 3 

Highlighting Rick Hall's Fame Studios in the USA

Audio Between 3 and 5 (mostly 5)

Superb Content and Vastly Improved Packaging Over The Two Previous Sets

 

"...Going Back Home..."

 

Mighty big shoes to fill...

 

When Ace Records of the UK put out the "Take Me To The River" 3CD Book Set in 2008 to universally giddy reviews (England's Mojo Magazine called it "...the greatest Soul compilation ever made...") – it was followed in 2011 by a second gem-filled Southern Soul 3CD overview - "The Fame Studios Story 1961-1973". So a 'threequel' to those two much-loved 3CD sets was always going to be a mouth-watering, trouser-trembling event for Soul fans everywhere. And e-by-gum but here it is at last – released late 2015 (delayed from 30 October to 20 November 2015) in all of its knee-knobbling Muscle Shoals glory...

 

"Back To The River: More Southern Stories 1961 to 1978" from England's Kent-Soul gives you 75 Remastered Mono and Stereo Tracks, 10 of which are Previously Unreleased Alternate Versions (including an Otis Redding Take 1 rarity) and with many of these Deep Soul sides making their CD debut for the first time anywhere after decades in the digital wilderness. It's presented once again in sumptuous packaging (and different in style thankfully to the awkward card slipcase and hardback look of the first two that caused so many problems) with liner notes that reflect Ace's knowledge, warmth and decades-long enthusiasm. Content wise - halfway through a second listen and I have to say that I'm thrilled with "Back To The River..." and am already thinking that its surely a shoe-in for Soul Reissue Of the Year 2015. There's a huge amount of info to get through so once more music lovers unto the Memphis Breach...

 

UK released Friday, 20 November 2015 (2016 in the USA) – "Back To The River: More Southern Soul Stories 1961 to 1978" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent Soul KENTBOX 18 (Barcode 029667073523) is a 75-track 3CD set housed in an outer Hard Card Slipcase and plays out as follows (all catalogue numbers are USA 7" singles unless otherwise noted):

 

Disc 1 – "Muscle Shoals Memphis Redux" (79:53 minutes):

1. I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) – SOLOMON BURKE (1968, Atlantic 45-2507, A. Written by Billy Taylor – made famous by Nina Simone)

2. Nearer To You – BETTY LaVETTE (Allen Toussaint song - 1969, Silver Fox SF-17, A)

3. Private Number (Extended Version) – JUDY CLAY and WILLIAM BELL (2015 Previously Unreleased Unedited Version of a July 1968 US 7" single on Stax STA-0005)

4. Free Me (Take 1) – OTIS REDDING (2015 Previously Unissued Alternate Take of a 1967 US 7" single on Atco 6700, A)

5. A Touch Of The Blues – BOBBY BLAND (1967, Duke 426, B-side of "Shoes". Written by Deadric Malone aka Don Robey. Produced by Willie Mitchell)

6. This Love Won't Run Out –DEE DEE SHARP (1968, Atco 6587, A. Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter)

7. I Got Everything I Need – EDDIE FLOYD

(2015 Previously Unissued Alternate Take of a 1966 Stax Recording that was first issued on the March 1994 Various Artists CD compilation "3000 Volts Of Stax" on Stax CDSXD 102).

8. Please Don't Desert Me Baby – GLORIA WALKER and THE CHIVELLES (1968, Flaming Arrow FA-36, A, Produced & Written by Eugene Davis)

9. Sugarman (Extended Version) – SAM BAKER

(2015 Previously Unreleased Unedited Version of a 1968 US 7" single on Sound Stage SS7-2620, A. Kris Kristofferson cover version)

10. Think I'll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep – JOE PERKINS (1969, Nugget NR-1029, A – written by Bill Anderson and first recorded by the country artist Charlie Louvin in 1965)

11. Sure As Sin – JEANIE GREEN

(1969, Atco 6619, A. Written by Eddie Hinton and Marlon Greene – Jeanie's husband. She later sang with Elvis Presley in 1969 on the Comeback Sessions)

12. What's That You Got – RUDOLPH TAYLOR

(Previously Unreleased 1966-1967 recording that first appeared on the June 2012 Various Artists CD compilation "Lost Soul Gems From Sound Of Memphis" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 378)

13. I Found What I Wanted – MARY WELLS (1971, Reprise 1031, A. Written by George Jackson and Raymond Moore)

14. I've Got Memories (Demo) – MELVIN CARTER (2015 Previously Unissued Goldwax Recording – written by Melvin Carter)

15. Message From Maria – JOE SIMON (1968, Sound Stage 7 SS7-2617, A. An Al Reed song - liner notes mistakenly credit it as Back Beat 631 – see 17)

16. Problems – MABLE JOHN (2015 Previously Unreleased Stax Recording. Possibly Isaac Hayes and David Porter song)

17. I've Been Searching – O.V. WRIGHT (1974, Back Beat BB-631, A. An Earl Randle song - Produced by Willie Mitchell)

18. She Ain't Gonna Do Right – CLARENCE CARTER

(2015 Previous Unissued Alternate Version of a 1967 US 7" single on Fame 1016, A. Written by Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn)

19. Give Me Back The Man I Love – BARBARA WEST (1969, Ronn RONN 32, A. Toussaint McCall song)

20. You're Gonna Want Me – BILL CODAY (1970, Crajon 48203, A and 1971, Galaxy 777, B-side of "Get Your Lie Straight". Written by Bill Coday – Produced by Willie Mitchell and Denise LaSalle)

21. I'm Just Living A Lie – BETTYE SWANN (1971, Fame 1479, A. Mickey Buckins and George Jackson song)

22. Home For The Summer – JIMMY BRASWELL

(Marlin Green and Eddie Hinton Song. 1970 USA 7" single on Quinvy Q-7004, B-side of "Hand Shaking". Originally recorded by Don Varner in 1967 on South Camp 7003, A)

23. Too Weak To Fight (Extended Version) – ELLA WASHINGTON

(2015 Previously Unreleased Unedited Version of a 1972 US 7" single on Sound Stage ZS7 1507, A. Clarence Carter cover version).

24. Everytime It Rains – NA ALLEN (Nathaniel A. Allen is the brother of Denise LaSalle. It’s a cover of the old 1950 Ruth Brown hit on Atlantic called "Teardrops From My Eyes". 1970, Ronn 47, A)

25. Yesterday – THE SOUL CHILDREN (2015 Previously Unreleased Stax Recording from 1974 of The Beatles 1965 classic from "Help!")

NOTES on Disc 1:

Tracks 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14 to 22 and 24 and 25 are MONO

Tracks 1 to 5, 9, 12, 13 and 23 are STEREO

Tracks 3, 4, 7, 9, 14, 16, 23 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

Disc 2 – "Southern Routes" (79:30 minutes)

1. The Only Girl (I've Ever Loved) – JOE TEX (1961, Dial 45-3000, A)

2. Rainy Night in Georgia – BROOK BENTON (1970, Cotillion 44057, A. Tony Joe White cover version)

3. Love Comes In Time – JOHN FRED (and his Playboys) (1966, Paula 247, B-side of "Outta My Head")

4. Somebody Done Took My Baby And Gone – JOEY GILMORE (1971, Saadia 7985, A and 1971, Phil L.A. Of Soul 345, A)

5. I Found All These Things – C. P. LOVE (1971, Chimneyville CH-438, A. Joe Broussard song)

6. A Woman Will Do Wrong – HELENE SMITH With the Rockateers (1960, Deep City 2638, A)

7. Depend On Me – STEVE DIXON (1969, Spotlite 101, A)

8. I'm In Love – ESTHER PHILLIPS (1969 Recording first appeared in 1986 on the US 2LP Set "Set Me Free" by Esther Phillips on Atlantic 7 81662-1. A Linda Cooke and Bobby Womack song)

9. Easier To Say Than Do – SAM DEES (1969, Lo Lo L-2306, A)

10. Without Love What Would Life Be – TERRIE & JOY LA ROY with the Bill Parker Show Band (1971, Anla ANLA 119, B-side of "Why I Shed So Many Tears")

11. I've Got To Tell You – COUNT WILLIE with LRL and The Dukes

(1975, Minaret NR6156 and Brown Dog BD-9010, A. Cover of Al Green's "God Blessed Our Soul" credited here as "I've Got To Tell You")

12. You Need Me – JOE WILSON (1972. Avco 4609, A)

13. Nearer To You – JOE MEDWICK (1967, Tear Drop 3197, A)

14. Your Love Is All I Need – DELLA HUMPHREY

(1968, Arctic 144, B-side of "Girls Can’t Do What The Guys Do" - Written by James Corbitt and Clarence Reid)

15. Nothing Takes The Place Of You – TOUSSAINT McCALL (1967, Tear Drop 3197, A. UK May 1967 7" single on Pye International 7N.25420, A)

16. How Sweet It Would Be – GEORGE PERKINS (1972, Soul Power SP-113, A. Tommy Tate and Helen Washington song)

17. Daydreaming – WARREN STORM (1968, Preview 1005, A)

18. No More Ghettos In America – STANLEY WINSTON (1970, Jewel 149, A. There is a later re-recorded version on Golden Records GR 111, A. Written by Stanley Edwards (Stanley Winston’s real name) and Eugene Harris)

19. Do Right Man – LITTLE BEAVER (1970, Saadia 5283, A. Real name William Hale)

20. (Sometimes) A Man Will Shed A Few Tears Too – JOHNNY ADAMS

(1966, Pacemaker PM-249, B-side of “When I’ll Stop Loving You”. Makes its CD debut here)

21. Asking For The Truth – REUBEN BELL (1975, Alarm 107, B-side of "I'll Be Your Woman")

22. I Can't Stand to See You Go – JOE VALENTINE (1967, Val 67119, A and Ronn RONN 14, A)

23. You Got Everything I Need – DON HOLLINGER (1973, Dash 5008, A)

24. A Sad Sad Song – CHARLES CRAWFORD (1973, Hy Sign 2114, A)

25. Tell It Like It Is – AARON NEVILLE (1966, Par Lo 101, A)

NOTES on Disc 2:

Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 to 20 and 22 to 25 are MONO

Tracks 2, 8 and 21 are STEREO - No Previously Unreleased

 

Disc 3 - "Going Back Home" (78:45 minutes):

1. Going Back Home – GROUND HOG (1970, Turbo TU-010, A. Written by William Guy and Joseph Richardson.

Features William Guy on Vocals (ex Coasters) and Joseph "Ground Hog" Richardson on Guitar (later with Don Covay's band)

2. Cry To Me –FREDDIE SCOTT (1967, Shout 211, A. Bert Barns song – a Solomon Burke hit in 1962)

3. Lookin' For A Home – LITTLE BUSTER (1964, Jubilee 5491, A. Edward "Little Buster" Forehand)

4. The Girls From Texas (Extended Version) – JIMMY LEWIS

(2015 Previously Unreleased Unedited Version of a US 1967 7" single on Minit 32017, A. Written by Clifford Chambers, Jimmy Holliday and James Lewis)

5. Ain't No Way – ARETHA FRANKLIN

(1968, from the Stereo LP "Lady Soul" on Atlantic SD 8176 - a Mono Version appears on the US 7" single Atlantic 2486, B-side to "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone". Features The Sweet Inspirations on Backing Vocals - especially her sister Carolyn Franklin)

6. I Found A Man In My Bed – ROY C (1970, Alaga 1003, A. Roy Charles Hammond)

7. Take Your Time – CLAY HAMMOND (1966, Kent 468, A. Written by Clay Hammond)

8. Just A Touch Of Your Hand – AL GARDNER (1968, Sir-Rah 504, A)

9. You're Good For Me – DON COVAY (1965, Landa 704, A. Different cut to the version on his debut album)

10. I Found The One – BILLY SHA-RAE (1970, Hour Glass 007, B-side of "Do It". Bobby Womack cover version)

11. Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes – Z.Z. HILL (1971, Hill 222, A)

12. What Can You Do When You Ain't Got Nobody – THE SOUL BROTHERS SIX (1967, Atlantic 2456, B-side of "You Better Check Yourself")

13. That's How It Is (When You're In Love) – OTIS CLAY (1967, One-derful 4848, A)

14. Go On Fool (Extended Version) – MARION BLACK (2015 Previous Unreleased Unedited Version of a 1970 US 7" single on Capsoul CS 20, A)

15. I Want Everyone To Know – FONTELLA BASS (1972, Paula 367, A. Don Bryant song – O.V. Wright cover version)

16. You Wants To Play – OSCAR WEATHERS (1970, Top & Bottom 405, B-side of "The Spoiler")

17. (I Want Her) By My Side – THE FULLER BROTHERS (1967, Keymen 110, A and 1971, Soul Clock 1002, B-side to "Stranger At My Door")

18. Shackin' Up – BARBARA MASON (1975, Buddah BDA 459, A. Jackie Avery song)

19. Don’t Blame Me – WILLIE HIGHTOWER (1973, Mercury 73390, A)

20. Stop – LESTER YOUNG (1966, Barry 1009, B-side of "Barefoot Time In New York". Lester Young song)

21. Someone To Take Your Place – BILL LOCKE (1968, Fraternity 1008, A. Joe Tex cover version)

22. If Loving You Is A Crime (I'll Always Be Guilty) – LEE MOSES (1968, Dynamo D-115, A. Written by Swamp Dogg using his wife's name Yvonne Williams)

23. Easy As Saying 1-2-3 – TIMMY WILLIS (1970, Jubilee 5690, A)

24. I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got Me - Parts 1 & 2 – LITTLE RICHARD (1965, Vee-Jay VJ 698, A. Written by Don Covay)

25. Mary Jane – BOBBY RUSH (1968, Galaxy GAL 778, A)

NOTES on Disc 3:

Tracks 1 to 4, 8 to 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 25 are MONO

Tracks 5, 6, 7, 15, 18, 19 and 24 are STEREO

Tracks 4 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

PACKAGING and SOUND:

The mistakes made with the packaging of "Take Me To The River" (if you could call them that) where the flimsy card wrap and book were near impossible to not destroy – have been learned. There's an outer 'hard card' slipcase this time (far sturdier) that contains a foldout card digipak within (all three colour-coded CDs are on see-through plastic trays) alongside a stand-alone booklet. The separate 64-page booklet is an oversized softback and superbly laid out - much like the oversized booklets Soul Jazz Records use on their chunky and brilliant reissues. It contains brilliantly observed and informative liner notes by Soul Aficionados and Lifetime Fans DEAN RUDLAND and TONY ROUNCE (who also compiled the set). Alongside the factoids are copious amounts of photos of those desirable 45s on Sue, Stax, Atco, Sound Stage, Reprise, Monument, Back Beat, Ronn, Fame and all points in-between. Supporting the tens-upon-thousands of words are the usual plethora of beautiful studio publicity shots, Press and Trade Adverts, Biog Pages, In-Studio Session snapshots and even photos of local Record Shops on Beale Street in Memphis. DUNCAN COWELL has carried out the Remasters and an exemplary job has been done – most are none too hissy – and even if they are – the remastering hasn’t sucked the life out of them by compression or silencing techniques. This music feels alive and is a joy to hear in such clarity...and as you can see from the total playing-times of the 3 discs above – each is pushing the 80-minute envelope – so there's no scrimping either on content or value for money.

 

CD1:

It begins with a social-conscience statement from Solomon Burke doing a heartfelt rendition of "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)" – an anthem made famous of course by Nina Simone. It may be slightly hissy – but "Nearer To You" by Betty LaVette is a torch-song stunner (a signed photo adorns Page 9 of the booklet). What is a shock is the 'Extended Version' of "Private Number" by William Bell and Judy Clay – it may only be 20 or 30 seconds longer but man what a difference it makes – turning the song into a more muscular experience. Then you’re hit with a sensation – a Previously Unissued Alternate of Otis Redding's "Free Me" on Atco 6700. Its 'Take 1' and his rendition is little short of magic – the audio beautifully clear too (top job done Mr. Cowell). Torch song versions continue with Eddie Floyd's "Everything I Need" and Gloria Walker's abandonment-anthem "Please Don't Desert Me Baby”. Things finally get slinky with the cool groove of "Sugarman" by Sam Baker (a Kris Kristofferson cover) where he laments how his baby has to sell her body to feed her 'sugar' habit. I love the chugging Soul of "What's That You Got" by Rudolph Taylor and the sophistication of "Sure As Sin" by Jeanie Greene where she tells her man the physical truth - "...I'm not a good woman...but I'm good for you..." The combo of Mary Wells and Rick Hall produced the excellent dancer "I Found What I Wanted" which feels like a great Stax side circa 1971 even though it was actually on Reprise Records. Rounce is right to call Melvin Carter's unadorned demo of "I've Got Memories" 'stunning' – it's raw, alive and deeply Soulful and surely one of the highlights amongst the Previously Unreleased material. Best Audio has to go to the stunning "Problems" by Mable John – an amazing piece of quality unreleased Soul. And as if that isn't enough to impress – Barbara West floors me with her beautiful version of Toussaint McCall's "Give Me Back The Man I Love" – a criminally forgotten 45 on Ronn Records from 1969.

 

CD2:

Early days for Southern Soul comes with Joe Tex's "The Only Girl (I've Ever Loved)" – a 1961 pleader on Dial Records. I've always loved Brook Benton's magisterial version of Tony Joe White's wonderful "Rainy Night In Georgia" – a million seller for Benton and his 7th USA R&B No. 1 (a stunning Arif Mardin production where even the syrupy strings don't ruin the song). When you look at the Paula 45 repro'd on Page 30 of the booklet with a credit to John Fred and his Playboys – you don’t automatically think 'Otis Redding soundalike' – yet that's what you get. With the chops of say Eddie Hinton – the "Judy In Disguise" frontman puts in a Soulful barnstormer on "Love Comes In Time". I don't know Joey Gilmore (shame on me) but his lovely "Somebody Done Took My Baby And Gone" is a sweetie and I’ll look into his Blues albums of late. An intensely Soulful C.P. Love (Carlton Pierre) recorded the aching "I Found All These Things" at Malaco's studios in Jackson, Mississippi and saw it released on Chimneyville in 1971 (what a nugget this track is). Genius choice goes to Helene Smith's version of Paul Kelly's "A Woman Will Do Wrong" – a 'man she loves' tale of caution and woe (so sweet a tune). Uber rarity goes to Steve Dixon's "Depend On Me" – said to exist in only 500 copies on the obscure Spotlite Records – and for me probably the sweetest song on Disc 2 (stunning Eddie Hinton-type vocals).

 

A threesome of Lo-fi and crude recordings (but full of genuine feeling) – first is the duet pleader "Without Love What Would Life Be" by Terrie & Joy La Roy - a real sweetie – second is Joe Medwick's impossibly rare "Nearer To You" and third is the morose (and very hissy) "Nothing Takes The Place Of You" by Toussaint McCall. But then you're hit with a triple-whammy of well-recorded Seventies classy Soul – sky-bound is the beautiful "I've Got To Tell You" by Count Willie (Smith) with LRL and The Dukes – an obscure piano-led wonder from 1975 that steadfastly remains dateless (what a find this is) – and next up is the Mississippi-recorded "You Need Me" by Joe Wilson which Rudland describes as 'exquisite' – and he'd be right. Last is the truly gorgeous strum of "Asking For The Truth" by Rueben Bell – a fabulous and heartfelt vocal performance enhanced by quality arrangements. Discovery-time includes the lovely Tommy Tate/Helen Washington written "How Sweet It Would Be" by George Perkins – an organ led 'love and loneliness' tune. The predominately ballad-driven Disc 2 continues – but with Stanley Winston's gospel-driven "No More Ghettos In America" - things get passionate and real as he speaks and wails of equality. The long run of smoochers and pleaders ends with a genuine classic – "Tell It Like It Is" with the ethereal vocals of Aaron Neville.

 

CD3:

After the ballad-fest of Disc 2 – Ground Hog's "Going Back Home" comes as welcome butt-wiggling delight – it's a mean and cool Funky Al Green Type Groove. Co-written by Ex Coaster's singer William Guy and Joseph Richardson (later with Don Covay's Jefferson Lemon Blues Band) – it features Richardson's Albert King-like guitar licks throughout and is the kind of winner you wish you owned so you could impress your friends with your knowledge and smarts. The boogie is short-lived though – but you don’t mind because Freddie Scott's slow and wailing "Cry To Me" (written by Bert Barns and a hit for Solomon Burke) is a truly fantastic pleader – and here is gorgeous Audio. The 'love them right or leave them alone' words of wisdom in "The Girls From Texas" comes in an 'Extended Version' for Jimmy Lewis - while Aretha's sister and songwriter Carolyn Franklin (from The Sweet Inspirations) threatens to steal the 1968 crown from the Queen Of Soul with Carolyn's operatic backing vocals on the beautiful ballad "Ain't No Way". Marital trouble and shenanigans hit both Roy Charles Hammond (Roy C) in the funky but sore-headed "I Found A Man In My Bed" - while Clay Hammond says that despite his love and a house full of kids – his missus is out on the razzle every night and he should have listened to mama when she advised Clay to "Take Your Time" (oh dear). Z.Z. Hill has it just as bad – another man gave his lady six babies – but he's the one that gives them a home in the slinky stepper "Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes". Of their group's five Atlantic 45s – the pain-dripped B-side "What Can You Do When You Ain't Got Nobody" by The Soul Brothers Six is probably their best cut coming complete with the screeching Bobby Womack-like vocals of John Ellison. The funereal "Go On Fool" by Marion Black mines the same misery territory of Toussaint McColl (see Track 15 on Disc 2) – but is actually far better in my book.

 

Pure class 70ts Soul shows up with Fontella Bass and her cover of O.V. Wright's "I Want Everyone To Know" (penned by Don Bryant) from her "Free" album on Paula Records in 1972 (beautifully arranged and produced by Oliver Sain). Originally issued as the B-side to the Van McCoy written “The Spoiler” – American DJs had other ideas and flipped the Oscar Weathers single to find "You Wants To Play" – giving its simple but heartfelt Blues-Soul the air time instead of the slicker A (I can so hear why). Busybody neighbours gossip during the rap-spoken "Shackin' Up" by Barbara Mason – a cool outside-marriage follow-up to her "From His Woman To You" hit in December 1974 (Made No.3) – "Shackin' Up" rightly made the US R&B Top 10 peaking at No. 9 in April 1975. Next we get a flurry of mid-tempo Southern Soul pleaders – especially enjoyable is the 'Lord have mercy' croaking of Lee Moses on the wonderfully titled "If Loving You Is A Crime (I'll Always Be Guilty)" and a stunning two-part Soul workout from Little Richard on his excellent "I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got Me" – an overlooked nugget from his years at Vee Jay. It ends on an out-and-out winner – the Funky Blues of "Mary Jane" by Bobby Rush – the kind of groove I eat for breakfast and always want a second helping of...

 

SUMMARY:

With Disc 2 being made up of entirely ballad-like material and Discs 1 and 3 featuring copious amounts of the same Southern Soul ache and plead – those expecting boogie and shuffles should stay away (I think this 3CD set might have been re-named "Kent-Soul Ballads" and be done with it). Best of all though is the discoveries – the wonderful finds - I'm dipping in all the time and loving it more and more – a genuine feast.

 

For sure 2015's "Back To The River..." is not as utterly immediate as 2008's "Take Me To The River" – but its 60ts and 70ts Soul pleasures are so many that I know I’ll be turning to it years from now – petting its wicked 'Fame Gang musicians stood on a bridge' cover like it's a Star Wars toy I'm glad I didn't wreck or throw away when I was young and too stupid to know its true beauty.

 

What a journey...and kudos to all involved for bringing this Soul joy to us in such style...

"This Is Flying Dutchman 1969-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Compilation Featuring Artists on Bob Thiele's Flying Dutchman Records Label including Gil Scott-Heron, Leon Thomas, Bob Thiele Emergency, Cesar, Esther Marrow, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gato Barbieri, Ornette Coleman, Oliver Nelson, Harold Alexander, Bernard Pretty Purdie and Steve Allen – Guest Musicians include Brian Jackson, Ron Carter, Hubert Laws, Pee Wee Ellis, Little Rock, Joe Farrell, Tom Scott, Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira, Willie Bobo and more (31 March 2023 UK Ace/Beat Goes Public (BGP) 16-Track Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Expansions..."

 

Delayed from February 2023 to the last day in March 2023 – you only have to look at the track list to "This Is Flying Dutchman 1969-1975" as a 16-song compilation and you can understand why Ace of the UK have also released it as a 2LP BLACK VINYL set (Ace/Beat Goes Public BGP2 314 - Barcode 029667013611).

 

Link to the VINYL Version

 

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This is the kind of Jazz, Fusion, Latin, Jazz Funk and Political Soul mash up covering 1969 to 1975 that chappies of my expanded vintage love. The names alone - Gil Scott-Heron, Leon Thomas, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ornette Coleman and Gato Barbieri – with guests like guitarist Brian Jackson, Saxophonists Tom Scott and Pee Wee Ellis, Hubert Laws and Joe Farrell on Flute, Ron Carter on Bass and loads more. There is mucho to discuss, so let us go flying and make it Dutch. Here are the details...

 

UK released Friday, 31 March 2023 (delayed from 24 February 2023) - "This Is Flying Dutchman 1969-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGPD 314 (Barcode 029667103329) is a 16-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (72:51 minutes):

 

1. The Revolution Wil Not Be Televised – GIL SCOTT-HERON (from the December 1971 US Album "Pieces Of A Man" on Flying Dutchman Records FD 10143)

2. Just In Time To See The Sun – LEON THOMAS (from the December 1973 US Album "Full Circle" on Flying Dutchman Records FD 10167)

3. Head Start – BOB THIELE EMERGENCY (from the 1969 US 2LP-set "Head Start" on Flying Dutchman Records FDS-104 in Stereo)

4. See Saw Affair – CESAR (from the November 1975 US Album "Cesar 830" on Flying Dutchman Records BDL1-0830)

5. Peaceful Man – ESTHER MARROW (from the 1969 US Album "Newport News, Virginia" on Flying Dutchman Records FDS-113 in Stereo)

6. Expansions – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (from the May 1975 US Album "Expansions" on Flying Dutchman Records BDL1-0934)

7. Bolivia – GATO BARBIERI (from the 1974 album "Bolivia" on Flying Dutchman Records FD 10158)

8. Friends And Neighbours – ORNETTE COLEMAN (from the 1970 US Album "Friends And Neighbours" on Flying Dutchman FDS 123 in Stereo)

9. 125^th St & 7^th Ave – OLIVER NELSON (from the 1975 US Album "Skull Session" on Flying Dutchman Records BDL1-0825)

10. Mama Soul – HAROLD ALEXANDER (from the 1971 US Album "Sunshine Man" on Flying Dutchman Records FD 10145)

11. Heavy Soul Slinger – PRETTY PURDIE (from the 1972 US Album "Soul Is..." on Flying Dutchman Records FD 10154)

12. Soulful Strut – STEVE ALLEN (from the 1969 US Album "Soul Brass No.2" on Flying Dutchman FDS 101 in Stereo)

13. Whitey On The Moon – GIL SCOTT HERON (from the 1970 US Album "Small Talk At 125^th And Lenox" on Flying Dutchman FDS 131)

14. Lament For John Coltrane (Take 1) – BOB THIELE EMERGENCY (Previously Unreleased outtake recorded 29 April 1969 during the album sessions for the "Head Start" 2LP set released in 1969. Take 1 first issued on the April 2013 UK CD Compilation "Liberation Music: Spiritual Jazz And The Art Of Protest on Flying Dutchman Records 1969-1974" on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGPD 259 – Barcode 029667525923)

15. Peaceful Ones – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (from the 1974 US Album "Cosmic Funk" on Flying Dutchman Records BDL1-0591)

16. Echoes – LEON THOMAS (from the 1969 US Album "Spirits Known And Unknown" on Flying Dutchman Records FDS-115)

 

The 20-page colour booklet has new liner notes from Genre-Lover and long-time associate with Ace Records – DEAN RUDLAND – and he (quite rightly) sings the praises of Jazz Musician and Producer BOB THIELE who formed Flying Dutchman Records – a label he hoped would expand the Jazz Genre into all manner of different areas. With artists like Gil Scott-Heron and Lonnie Liston Smith – two heroes for many lovers of music that entwines Soul and Jazz into something new yet still accessible – you could call a lot of the FD output as Spiritual Jazz, Protest Soul with a few dollops of spoken word and Be-Bop Poetry thrown in.

 

Rudland tackles his notes by giving you the profile on each artist and the couple of tunes the compilation affords them. Black and White publicity photos, live period shots and album covers abound. A very clever discography touch is that each track lists all the musicians when it could have taken the lazy way out – guest names included too. So we see that a virtual who's-who went through the FD studios doors - including guitarists Brian Jackson, Burt Jones and John Abercrombie, Bassists Richard Davis and Charlie Haden, flautists Hubert Laws and Joe Farrell, Soprano Saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, Tenor Saxophonist Little Rock, Alto Saxophonist Tom Scott, Bass and Keyboards Stanley Clarke, Drummers Roy Haines, Ed Blackwell and Airto Moreira, Willie Bobo on Percussion and loads more.

 

NICK ROBBINS – one of the resident Audio Engineers Ace Records uses regularly – has handled the transfers - and the sound is never less than great and in some cases all shiny brilliant and uplifting. Also for a Jazz-infused compilation spanning six years of experimentation with the genre – the uniformity of excellent sound is a pleasure to listen to. To the music...

 

Leon Thomas was one of the first signings to Flying Dutchman Records and between 1969 and 1973 made five albums for the label under his own name and appeared with Johnny Hodges and H Rap Brown on two others. This compilation features two tracks – "Echoes" is from the famous 1969 debut album "Spirits Known And Unknown" and his fifth and last record for Bob Thiele "Full Circle" from late 1973 that features his cover of the 1972 Santana Caravanserai LP song "Just In Time To See The Sun".

 

I must admit I have never had the time (or a copy) of the Bob Thiele double-album "Head Start" – but what a blast the Saxophone and Horn led the instrumental title track is – all Blood, Sweat & Tears funky – and in stunning neck-jerking audio. That is followed by the treated echoed guitar of "See Saw Affair" – a very Sly & The Family Stone funky dancer circa 1971 made by the Bolivian piano-player Cesar in 1975. Cesar Ascarrunz employs the talents of Jim Vincent, Joe Jammer and Stephen Busfield who play the amazing guitar parts, Merle Saunders on Piano with impassioned vocals about finding a solution from Linda Tillery and a background-punching Horn Section of Six.

 

She later became a Gospel Singer after a stalled career, but for her 1969 outing with FD Records, Esther Marrow gives her deep voice and obvious passion to the message song "Peaceful Man" – hoping he will bring it to her land. There will not be many Seventies kids who will not get a little tingle in the arm-hairs as the tinkering beginning of "Expansions" slides in – then the drums and keys – and we are off. Lonnie Liston Smith’s clarion call for all of us to live in peace (Love to all mankind) was a weekly playlist in Reckless Records in London’s Berwick Street shop and always had punters demanding to be pointed in the direction of this Jazz Funk/Humanist Soul gem. And you get the full album cut of 6:05 minutes.

 

One of the pleasures of a compilation like this is discoveries – and if you haven’t heard the Terry Callier-slinky Santana-shimmering rhythms of "Bolivia" by Tenor Saxophonist Gato Barbieri – then you are in for a 7:46 minute instrumental treat. He is ably abetted in the tune’s trance-like sonic sins by a seriously great crew – Lonnie Listen Smith on Piano, John Abercrombie on Acoustic Guitar, Stanley Clarke on Bass, Airto Moreira on Drums with James Mtume on Congas – all names that would go on to have huge careers in Jazz Funk, Soul and New Age Music.

 

Can’t say I am a huge fan of the Ornette Coleman track "Friends And Neighbours" – her free-form Jazz, Horns and Drums will either be music to your ears or a sort of indulgence guiltily born on a Saturday morning. Things lift up immediately into a 6:20 minute Piano Funky groover from Oliver Nelson – the seriously cool Mission Impossible Ocean’s Eleven instrumental "125^th St & 7^th Ave" – yeah baby –and in spectacular audio too. The New York Streets and Avenues track also employs a massive 15-or-so Horn players including Bud Shank on Tenor Saxophone alongside the ever-lurking Lonnie Liston Smith on Keyboards. Things get scat-crazy with Saxophonist and Flautist Harold Alexander going vocally ape on "Mama Soul" during Flute notes – the tight and funky rhythm section of Richard Davis on Bass and Bernard Pretty Purdie on Drums keeping it in check.

 

Beautiful Production values on "Heavy Soul Slinger" where ace session player Bernard Pretty Purdie is dreaming of Steely Dan and "Aja" in 1977 as he whacks his kit - Harold Ott getting seriously Donny Hathaway funky on his electric piano (chune!). Although good in its very 60ts elevator music way, the instrumental of Young Holts "Soul Strutt" (as used in so many movies) is a little too brass heavy and probably the least representative track of FD Records (still expect to hear it in some cool flick soon). But that rare blip moment is properly whomped by the ethereal Flute, Bass and Drums only "Lament For John Coltrane". This astonishing Bob Thiele Emergency "Take 1" instrumental of 5:19 minutes first surfaced on the 2013 Ace/Beat Goes Public CD Reissue and Remaster as a Bonus Track. It’s gorgeous stuff and seriously well produced too - Joe Farrell sifting over the warm mood with Flute, Wilbur Little playing bass with Elvin Jones shuffling those drums and high-hats.

 

The "This Is Flying Dutchman 1969-1975" 16-Track CD and 2LP compilation comes to a joyful/mellow finish with two smooth gems - "Peaceful Ones" by Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes featuring Donald Smith on Lead Vocals – a 1974 Jazz sweetheart track beloved by Seventies fans. The mellow beautiful things vibe continues with yeah-e yeah-e-o vocals of Leon Thomas getting seriously creative with his voice on "Echoes".

 

"This Is Flying Dutchman 1969-1975" is a winner and a fabulous way to access music that has always been fringe and hard to find – music that has seeped its way back into kids of the Naughties and onwards. Check it out...and the VINYL 2LP set looks like a proper winner to me...

 

Titles in the 'Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics' Series of CD Reissues 

by Ace/Beat Goes Public of the UK include

 

1. Fenix - GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 268)

2. The Third World - GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 272)

3. El Pampero – GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 283)

4. Cesar 830 – CESAR (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 261)

5. Friends And Neighbors: Ornette Live At Prince Street – ORNETTE COLEMAN (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 266)

6. Afrique – COUNT BASIE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 271)

7. Barefoot Boy - LARRY CORYELL (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 269)

8. George Russell Presents… - THE ESOTERIC CIRCLE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 284)

9. Small Talk At 125th & Lenox - GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 290) - see REVIEW

10. Pieces Of A Man – GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 274)

11. Free Will – GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 281)

12. Astral Traveling – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 273)

13. Cosmic Funk - LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 278)

14. Expansions – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 263 – Barcode 029667526326)

15. Visions Of A New World – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 294)

16. Reflections Of A Golden Dream – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 296)

17. Cosmic Funk And Spiritual Sounds; The Best Of The Flying Dutchman Years – LONNIE LISTON SMITH (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 254)

18. Newport News, Virginia – ESTHER MARROW (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 264)

19. Swiss Suite: Recorded Live At The Montreaux Jazz Festival - OLIVER NELSON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 279)

20. Soul Is… - (Bernard) PRETTY PURDIE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 282)

21. Head Start – BOB THIELE EMERGENCY (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 265)

22. Spirits Known And Unknown – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 262)

23. The Leon Thomas Album - LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 270)

24. Blues And The Soulful Truth – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 277)

25. The Creator: The Best Of The Flying Dutchman Masters – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPD 257)

"Modernity" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Birdlegs & Pauline, Jackie Lee, Ray & Bob, Willis Jackson, The Fashionettes, Willie Tee, King Carl, Ike & Tina Turner and more (May 2021 UK Ace/Kent Dance CD Compilation of 60ts Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and over 184 More Are Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series - An Amazon E-Book

SOUL GALORE! 
 

60ts Soul, R'n'B, Mod, Northern Soul, New Breed and More
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Also Includes Harmony Soul, Rare Groove and Funk...
Just Click Below To Purchase for £5.95 (Jan 2022 Update)
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(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

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"...Just Can't Help Myself..."

Another strong pull on my wallet for my increasingly geriatric living-room shuffling playlists - "Modernity" is the third volume of Mod movers from Ace's Kent Dance label imprint and sees Kent reach No. 500 in their fantastic compilation history.

 

There's the usual mix of 24 tracks covering 60ts Soul, R&B, Jazz, Mod Dancers etc - the good, the great and the not-so-sure slices with five Previously Unreleased cuts for collectors (see full list below for this Mod Music Series and complimentary compilations). Lots to get through - so let's have at it...

 

UK released Friday, 7 May 2021 - "Modernity" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 500 (Barcode 029667102223) is a 24-Track CD Compilation of Remasters (Five Tracks Previously Unreleased) that plays out as follows (58:37 minutes):

 

1. Just Can't Help Myself - BIRDLEGS & PAULINE (Numero Download from 2018, NUM5038, featuring Sidney 'Birdlegs' Banks on Lead Vocals with his wife Pauline)

 

2. Deuces Wild - GARY & GARY (March 1964 US 45-single on Arock 1003, B-side of "I'm Leavin' (For Parts Unknown)", featuring Gary Klyvert and Garrett Saunders)

 

3. Drop That Gun - TEDDY REYNOLDS (March 1966 US 45-single on Newman 603, A-side)

 

4. I Found A Little Girl - EDDIE BO (1963 US 45-single on Last 1006, B-side of "Hold Me")

 

5. Go Away With Me - HOLLIS DIXON & THE KEYNOTES (1963 US 45-single on Fame 704, B-side of "Time Will Tell")

 

6. Sundown - THE MERCED BLUE NOTES (first appeared on a 1984 US LP "Music With A Beat That Won't Stop" by The Merced Blue Notes on Recherché RR-1963, then 2004 on the UK CD MBN compilation "Get Your Kicks On Route 99" on Ace CDCHD 1026)

 

7. Is It Because You Love Me - STICKS HERMAN (1961 Tic Toc recording, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, 2021)

 

8. Walk Home With Me - IKE & TINA TURNER (1964 Buck Ram recording, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, 2021)

 

9. Ooh Baby - THE TEEN QUEENS (1966 Modern Records recording, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, 2021)

 

10. See See Rider - BYRDIE GREEN (from the 1967 US MONO LP "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" on Prestige PRLP 7509)

 

11. Earthquake - THE FASHIONETTES  (1963 Garpax recording first issued in June 2009 on the UK CD compilation "Where The Girls Are Volume 7" on Ace Records CDCHD 1218)

 

12. The Bounce - JACKIE LEE (from the 1966 US Mono LP "The Duck" on Mirwood Records MW-7000)

 

13. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - IKE PORTER & THE FABULATIONS (1969 US 45-single on Anla Records ANL-107, A-side)

 

14. The Hawg Part 2 - EDDIE KIRK (Unedited Version of Volt 106 that first appeared on the 1995 UK CD compilation "4000 Volts of Stax & Satellite: Rare & Unreleased Tracks From The Golden Era of Soul" on Ace/Stax CDSXD 107)

 

15. Monkey Walk Part 1 - THE KINGSMEN (1963 US 45-single on Sarjo Records 105, A-side)

 

16. (Oh) Lady Be Good - CHARLES HODGES (1965 US 45-single on Alto 2018, A-side)

 

17. Lonely Am I - CHUCK JACKSON (January 1963 US 45-single on Wand 132, B-side of "Tell Him I'm Not Home")

 

18. Who Knows - WILLIE TEE (an unissued 1962 AFO recording first released 1994 on the UK CD compilation "Still Spicy Gumbo Stew (Original AFO New Orleans R&B)" on Ace Records CDCHD 520)

 

19. Bossa Blue Port - THE BIRDS OF PARADISE (February 1966 US 45-single on Newman 602, A-side)

 

20. Soul Grabber - WILLIS JACKSON (1967 US 45-single on Prestige 45-457, B-side of "The Song Of Ossanha (Canto de Ossanha)")

 

21. The Warm Up Part 1 - CLIFTON WHITE & HIS ROYAL KNIGHTS (1968 US 45-single on Anla 104, A-side)

 

22. That's All I Want - KING CARL (1964 La Louisianne recording, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, 2021)

 

23. Air Travel - RAY & BOB (September 1961 US 45-single on Ledo 1151, A-side)

 

24. Looking Through My Spyglass (1967 Goldband recording, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, 2021)

NOTES:

All Tracks in MONO except Tracks 17, 18 and 20, which are in STEREO

Tracks 7, 8, 9, 22 and 24 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

The 24-page booklet annotated by longtime contributors and enthusiasts DEAN RUDLAND and ADY CROASDELL is the usual feast of rare US 45-labels, publicity photos, the occasional LP shot, trade adverts and more - all wrapped up with a beautiful black and white of Eddie Kirk adorning all of the back page. It's cool to see underground genre heroes like The Merced Blue Notes actually be pictured and that publicity shot of Birdlegs & Pauline has to be so ludicrously rare. Mastering is by long-standing Audio Engineer genius NICK ROBBINS and it's a tale of many cities depending on the source tapes. With these kind of do-it-yourself 60ts recordings, you take the rough with the smooth - so some sound amazing while others betray their crude origins - but none lack that vibe that collectors love. To the listen...

 

I'm down with "Just Can't Help Myself" being a cool dancefloor shuffler (great duet vocals between Sidney 'Birdlegs' Banks and his wife Pauline), but my heart goes instead to the wicked B-side "Deuces Wild" giving it some 'which girl should I pick' between Gary & Gary (decisions-decisions boys). Whole lot of ducking goin' on in the woods when Teddy Reynolds goes hunting in his brass-jabbing Funkathon "Drop That Gun" - a real obscurity from the spring of 1966 and a very clever compilation inclusion.

 

Everybody's stopping/staring at Eddie Bo's new squeeze in "I Found A Little Girl" (not surprisingly he's terribly pleased with himself at this), but I actually dig the thinny organ-sound of "Go Away With Me" by Hollis Dixon & The Keynotes more - a fantastic guitar-flicking shuffler that is best described as irresistible. "Sundown" by The Merced Blue Notes immediately follows, another genius inclusion with a winning saxophone (Merced is a town in the San Joaquin Valley). "Sundown" has male and female lead vocals battle out their feelings just before night comes and the suitcases get packed. It's not surprised that this winner was championed by Mod DJ Lee Miller and hence saw it get a Kent Select 45-single reissue in 2018).

 

After such a promising run to Track 6 - "Is It Because You Love Me" by Sticks Herman is a Previously Unreleased 1961 Tic Toc recording and it's weedy R&B half-heartedness kind of lets the side down. Not a whole lot better and just as unconvincing, Ike & Tina Turner get uncomfortably coy in "Walk Home With Me" - another Previously Unreleased cut that Ike quite rightly canned. Next up is a 1966 Modern Records recording by The Teen Queens (Rosie and Betty Collins) that actually stands a chance of becoming a fave on the scene should it get more plays - and the fact that its Unreleased until now is a testament to the well of astonishment that the 60ts was/is.

 

Can't say the same for the rather functional cover of "See See Rider" by Byrdie Green - good but never better than that. Things improve immeasurably with the happy-to-be-alive flute-bopper "Earthquake" by The Fashionettes - a 1963 Garpax cut that languished in the vaults until its resurrection in 2009 on an Ace CD compilation. I'd normally flip for anything Chuck Jackson does, but his B-side "Lonely Am I" is not his best - better is the Willis Jackson dancer "Soul Grabber" while King Carl's "That's All I Want" is a discovery worth acquainting yourself with.

 

To sum up - "Modernity" is not a masterpiece by any means (there are one too many weaknesses for that). But the smart inclusions and the odd newly unearthed gem make it another proud entry in a long line of Mod-related releases from England's Ace Records.

 

"Just Can't Help Myself" Sidney 'Birdlegs' Banks sang in the 60ts – well because of releases like this, has been like that ever since mate...

 

Compilations in this Mod Music Various Artists series by Ace/Kent

 

CD Titles:

1. Modernists: A Decade Of Rhythm & Soul Dedication – released June 2015 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 431 (Barcode 029667243124)

2. Modernism – released May 2016 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 452 (Barcode 029667245227)

3. Modernity – released May 2021 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 500 (Barcode 029667102223)

VINYL Title:

1. Modernists (Modernism's Sharpest Cuts) – released 30 June 2017 as a 14-Track LP on Ace/Kent Dance KENT 505 (Barcode 029667005418)

 

Other Compilations by Ace/Kent that compliment the "Modernity" CD and Genre:

1. Mod Jazz (Kent-Soul CDKEND 139)

2. Mo' Mod Jazz (Kent-Soul CDKEND 150)

3. Even Mo' Mod Jazz (Kent-Soul CDKEND 171)

4. Yet Mo Mod Jazz (Kent-Soul CDKEND 184)

5. The Return Of Mod Jazz (Kent-Soul CDKEND 250)

6. Further Adventures of Mod Jazz (Kent-Soul CDKEND 300)

7. Mod Jazz Forever (Kent-Soul CDKEND 368)

8. Mod Jazz And Then Some! (Kent-Soul CDKEND 416)

9. Mod Jazz Rides Again (Kent-Soul CDKEND 479)