"The Jacks Meet The Cadets Volume 2: Why Don't You Write Me?" by THE CADETS and THE JACKS [and ROCKATEERS] (1995 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters Covering 1955 to 1958 on Modern and RPM Records) – see also Volume 1 from 1994 "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Fine Lookin' Baby…"

Volume 1 in the story of the intertwining American Vocal Groups THE CADETS and THE JACKS is "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" - a September 1994 25-track CD on Ace CDCHD 523 (Barcode 029667153423). 

Well here comes Volume 2 concentrating on THE JACKS side of things. UK released May 1995 - "The Jacks Meet The Cadets Volume 2: Why Don't You Write Me?" on Ace CDCHD 535 (Barcode 029667153522) has more detailed liner notes by noted Rhythm 'n' Blues expert JIM DAWSON and superlative remastered sound from original analogue master tapes (68:25 minutes).

THE CADETS released 14 singles on Modern and THE JACKS managed 7 on their subsidiary label RPM (the same group using a different name) as well as an ultra-rare one-off by THE ROCKATEERS on M.J.C. Records. But each of these intertwined R'n'B Vocal Group incarnations charted big just once. THE JACKS got there first in July 1955 with "Why Don't You Write Me?" on RPM Records 428 (rose to Number 3) while THE CADETS made it with the novelty hit "Stranded In The Jungle" on Modern 944 in July 1956 (rose to Number 4). "Stranded In The Jungle" was in itself a cover of a JAYHAWKS song on Flash Records 109 that made Number 9 in July 1956.

Using both CDs - here is a discography for each group and their American singles:

[7/1] = Track number 7 on Volume 1 while [7/2] = Track 7 on Volume 2 etc...

THE CADETS

1. Don't Be Angry [7/1] b/w I Cried  [7/2] (Modern 956, April 1955)

2. Rollin' Stone [6/1] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 960, June 1955)

3. I Cried [7/2] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 963, July 1955)

4. Annie Met Henry [5/1] b/w So Will I [24/2] (Modern 969, 1955)

5. Do You Wanna Rock [4/2] b/w If It Is Wrong [15/2] (Modern 971, November 1955)

6. Heartbreak Hotel [18/1] b/w Church Bells May Ring [15/1] (Modern 985, February 1956)

7. Stranded In The Jungle [1/1] b/w I Want You [19/2] (Modern 994, June 1956)

8. I Got Loaded [22/1] b/w Dancin' Dan [22/2] (Modern 1000, September 1956)

9. I'll Be Spinning [23/1] b/w Fools Rush In [3/1] (Modern 1006, Nov 1956)

10. Love Bandit [13/1] b/w Heaven Help Me [3/2] (Modern 1012, December 1956)

11. Wiggle Waggle Woo [12/2] b/w You Belong To Me [20/2] (Modern 1017, 1957)

12. Pretty Evey [10/1] b/w Rum, Jamaica Rum [20/1] (Modern 1019, May 1957, credited as Aaron Collins & The Cadets)

13. Hands Across The Table [8/1] b/w Love Can Do Most Anything [11/1] (Modern 1024, August 1957 credited as Will Jones & The Cadets)

14. Ring Chimes [17/1] b/w Baby Ya Know [12/1] (Modern 1026, December 1957)

THE JACKS

1. Why Don't You Write Me? [1/2] b/w Smack Dab In The Middle [9/1] (RPM 428, April 1955) - this was withdrawn for...

2. Why Don't You Write Me? [1/2] b/w My Darling [25/2] (RPM 428, July 1955)

3. I'm Confessin' [13/2] b/w Since My Baby's Been Gone [2/2] (July 1955, RPM 433)

4. This Empty Heart [23/2] b/w My Clumsy Heart [4/1] (November 1955, RPM 444)

5. How Soon [6/2] b/w So Wrong [11/2] (January 1956, RPM 454)

6. Why Did I Fall In Love? [18/2] b/w Sugar Baby [24/1] (April 1956, RPM 458)

7. Dream A Little Longer [9/2] b/w Let's Make Up [14/2] (July 1957, RPM 467)

THE ROCKATEERS

1. They Turned The Party Out Down At Bessie's House [8/2] b/w My Reckless Heart [17/2] (1958, M.J.C Records 501)

Volume 2 has 1 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED OUTTAKE - a version of "Dream A Little Longer". As with Volume 1 - the much-revered LITTLE WALTER DE VENNE researched and compiled the set and the hugely informative 12-page booklet by JIM DAWSON gives a virtual track-by-track history - even reproducing tiny Cashbox Adverts in between the text. But the big news is the stunning audio quality. The greatly missed 'BOPPIN' BOB JONES mastered the tracks initially for the 1987 LP "The Cadets Meet The Jacks" - whilst this set CD reissue boasts 1995 Post Production work done by DAVID YOUNG at Sound Mastering in London. The sonic clarity is fabulous - clear, full of life, great presence and sounding like they were recorded yesterday and not a half-a-century ago.

Aaron Collins and Will "Dub" Jones handled the leads on The Cadets sides while Tenor Willie Davis fronted The Jacks with the other three integral parts of the group being - Ted Taylor (Tenor), Glendon Kingsby (who left to pursue Gospel) and Lloyd McCraw (Baritone).

Vocal Group fans will love the CD inclusion of the ultra-rare ROCKATEERS single which was essentially a private press on M.J.C. (stands for group members McCraw, Jones and Collins) - it's listed at $2000 + (if you can find a copy) and to my knowledge is first time on CD here. I love the piano-driven "Fine Lookin' Baby" and finger-clicking "Let's Make Up" reminds me of THE CUES. What is also noticeable about THE JACKS material is that it's more Crooner Doo Wop than the rocking sides of THE CADETS - lovely stuff like "I'm Confessin'" and "Dream A Little Longer".

Ted Taylor enjoyed a great solo career - both Collins and Davis would join The Flairs in 1961 while Betty and Rosie Collins (his sisters) recorded as The Teen Queens. Will "Dub" Jones would later be with The Coasters as their Bass Vocalist - staying with them for over 10 years.

Great stuff and just as good as Volume 1...

"20 Greatest Hits" by BARBARA ACKLIN (2002 Brunswick CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

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"…Love Makes A Woman…"

"20 Greatest Hits" is probably not going to win an 'Original Title Of The Year' award at a Various Artists Prize-Winning convention any time soon – but this is one of those boring looking 'hits' sets that so works on the two fronts that matter – top track choices and great audio. The fire was burning indeed. Here are the womanly details…

US released February 2002 – "20 Greatest Hits" by BARBARA ACKLIN on Brunswick BRC 33011-2 (Barcode 646953301124) breaks down as follows (59:04 minutes):

1. Love Makes A Woman (1968 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55379, A)

2. Just Ain’t No Love (1968 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55388, A)

3. Am I The Same Girl (1969 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55399, A)

4. Fool, Fool, Fool (Look In The Mirror) (1967 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55319, A)

5. Portrait Of A Broken Heart (from the 1972 US LP “I Call It Trouble” on Brunswick BL 754187)

6. You’ve Been In Love Too Long (from the 1970 US LP “Someone Else’s Arms” on Brunswick BL 754156)

7. I Did It (1970 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55440, A)

8. After You (1969 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55421, A)

9. Stop, Look And Listen (1971 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55465, B)

10. Lady, Lady, Lady (1971 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55465, A)

11. Make The Man Love You (from the 1971 US LP “I Did It” on Brunswick BL 754166)

12. I Call It Trouble (1972 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55486, A)

13. Be By My Side (1969 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55399, B)

14. Yes I See Love (from her 1968 LP “Love Makes A Woman” on Brunswick BL 754137)

15. To Sir With Love (from her 1968 LP “Love Makes A Woman” on Brunswick BL 754137)

16. Someone Else’s Arms (1970 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55433, B-side of “Is It Me”)

17. It’s A Groovy Idea (from the 1972 US LP “I Call It Trouble” on Brunswick BL 754187)

18. From The Teacher To The Preacher (1968 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55387, A, credited to GENE CHANDLER and BARBARA ACKLIN)

19. I’ll Bake Me A Man (from the 1972 US LP “I Call It Trouble” on Brunswick BL 754187)

20. Show Me The Way To Go (1968 USA 7” single on Brunswick 55366, A, credited to GENE CHANDLER and BABARA ACKLIN)

The 6-page foldout liner notes by JIM DAWSON give an excellent and affectionate overview of her productive stay at Brunswick Records - but it’s the superb remastered sound done by IVAN JOSEPH GOLDBERG (from original tapes) that clobbers you. Brunswick had the awesome talents of 5-time Grammy Winner BRUCE SWEDIEN as their Engineer and when you rehear classics like “Just Ain’t No Love” or “Am I The Same Girl” (a lyric version of “Soulful Strut” by Young-Holt Unlimited) – the audio quality here is truly fantastic. That backing rhythm of drums and piano punctuated by great brass fills – slinky keys – what a blast.

Even though it includes all of the 7 chart entries she made on the American Billboard R&B charts - for a single-CD compilation you could argue that it’s playing time (like its title) lacks any real imagination. But the track choices are very clever and as you play through it – hugely satisfying as an overall listen. You get classy singles like “Love Makes A Woman” and the two hits she had with Gene Chandler – “From The Teacher To The Preacher” and “Show Me The Way To Go”, really ace flipsides like “Come And See Me” and “Be By My Side” running alongside cool album cuts like “To Sir With Love” (exclusive to this set, not on the 2CD “The Brunswick Anthology”).

It doesn’t take Mensa genius to work out that Brunswick Records housed some truly gorgeous Soul in its classy roster of artists (Jackie Wilson, Erma Franklin, Gene Chandler, Tyrone Davis and of course The Chi-Lites) - and you have to say that Barbara Acklin’s stay between 1967 and 1973 epitomises that with style.

A fab CD reissue – and unlike "The Brunswick Anthology" and "The Complete" which are now deleted and have acquired hefty price tags – this brill little set is still readily available for a reasonable price and wanting to bring love into your home. Succumb to its call…