Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Harmony In Soul








The sound quality here is good. Lots of nice tracks but nothing rare and new to the seasoned collector. For me the material covers too many decades. highlights include the common acts such as The Fuzz, The Mad Lads, The Temprees, The Lost Generation and many others available in other compilations.
6 out of 10

Story Book Of Love




A budget priced CD with all repeats. Will make for good listening to the casual soul fan. Good sound quality.
4 out of 10

Songs From La Mission




All the nice OLDIES tracks here are repeats. The Stylistics, The Masqueraders, Rose Royce, Billy Stewart, The Isley Brothers and Ralfi Pagan. Unless you are on a tight budget it will be best to pick up these tracks on the many other compilations out there that include the good tracks.
3 out of 10

It Takes Two




Another slow jam collection that expands too many decades for my taste. A mix of soul and pop that just does not cut it for me. Half way through playing I lost interest. Good tracks are repeats. You will not miss much passing up on this CD.
2 out of 10

Smooth Grooves The 60's






The first two volumes contain well known tracks to even the casual oldies fan. Volume three was one of the first, if not the first, to have "The Ice Cream Song" by The Dynamics and "Baby I'm Lonely" by The Intruders which at that time made it a must have CD. Sound quality is very good and there are plenty of liner notes.
7 out of 10

Old Fashion Doo Wop




A very good, mainly Doo Wop compilation with a mix of standard and a few obscure tracks. highlights include "I'm Lost" by Don & Bob", "Let Me Dream" by The Matadors, "Angel Baby" by Charles Brown and "Gee Whiz - Gee Whiz" by The Puppets. A must for the Doo Wop fan.
8 out of 10

The Jaynetts




Lots of pop sounds with a few nice ballads sprinkled in. Highlights include "Where Are You Tonite", "Is It My Imagination", "Suffering With My Heart" and "There's No Love At All". If you like the sounds of the Chantels the above noted tracks will not disappoint.
4 out of 10

The Poppies Meet The Glories




The gamble did not pay off on this pick up. Besides "Don't Make The Good Girls Go Bad" I hit the skip button too often to make this a recommended addition. Your are better off picking up the noted track on another compilation.
1 out of 10

Monday, March 31, 2014

Lil Ray Jimenez




Simply a must have for any fan of the East L.A. sound. Highlights include "Leave Her Alone", "There Is Something On Your Mind" and "My Rainbow". Sound quality varies.
5 out of 10.

The Underground Oldies Bible

















I was surprised when I picked up this set and went to play it. It is one big mess! I had heard complaints about people not being able to open some of the MP3 files but I did not have any issues.You get a big box with one disc containing all repeats, sound quality is poor, sound leveling was not used. Even though the label and CD were professionally printed, to me the contents appear to have been slapped together by an amateur in a hurry. Below is the track list. No way I can recommend this to anyone even if it had a thousand tracks, save your money.
1 out of 10.

Title Artist
Those Three Words Aaron Neville
Somewhere Not Here Alpha
I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down Ann Peebles
This Is The Thanks I Get Barbara Lynn
Troubled Child Barbara Mason
Midnight And You Barry White
I'm Still Waiting Bob Marley
Searching For My Love Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces
I Want love Brenton Wood
Where Will I Go Brief Encounter
I'm A Loser Brighter Side Of Darkness
I Stand Alone Calif. Malibus
Man From The Sky Carlos Wright
Give Me Your Love Curtis Mayfield
Oh Honey Delegation
What Can I Do Derrick Harriot
Your Heart Belongs To Me Diana Ross & The Supremes
Peek-A-Boo Disciples Of Soul
The Answer Came Too Late Don Julian & The Larks
Tell Me So Donnie Elbert
This Can't Be True Eddie Holman
Let Try Making Love Elements Of Love
I'd Rather go Blind Etta James
Wait Till I Find Her Fabulous Flirtations
Peaceful Journey Fat Larry's Band
Image Of A Star Francisco Aguabella
Bring It Home To Daddy Fred & The Restless Hearts
Stop Doubting My Love Freedom Machine
Look The Other Way Ghost & The Sick Souls
90% Of Me Is You Gwen McCrae
You Know How To make Me Feel So Good Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
I Do Love My Lady Haze
Wonderful To Be Loved Ice Cold Love
Sheer Magic Ice Cold Love
Oh Love Iron Knowledge
She Calls Me Baby J. Kelly & The Premiers
Doggin' Around Jackie Wilson
So Long James Brown
Here I Go Again Jean Plumm
When I Say Goodbye Jerry & Wila
No Particular one Jesse Boone & The Astros
I Can't Speak Jimmy Bo Horne
The Prayer Joe Bataan
That's All Over Baby Jones Brothers
I Gotta Change My Ways Julius Thomas
Take Care June Conquest
Cleo's Mood Junior Walker & The All Stars
Little Girl Lee Washington
Lost Love Lee Williams & The Cymbals
If I Love You Little Anthony & The Imperials
My Little Girl Little Tony & The Hawks
Since I've Fallen In Love Lou D. Washington & The Professionals
Very Special Love Marvin Gaye
All Night Love Mary Jane Girls
Ever Lovin' Boy Mary Wells
Lovely Little Lassie Master of Soul
Oh No, Not My Baby Maxine Brown
The Town I Live In McKinley Mitchell
I'M A Lonely Soldier Mike Williams
All Your Goodies Are Gone Parliament
18 With A Bullet Pete Wingfield
You Need A Love Players & Premiers
Bound Ponderosa Twins + 1
Come Baby Ralfi Pagan
Hey Boy Ruby Andrews
For Your Love Sam & Bill
Holly Smokey Robinson
This Must Be Love Solid Solution
Time After Time Step By Step
Should I Take You Home Sunny & The Sunliners
Could It Be I'm Falling In Love Syl Johnson
Strangers In Dark Corners Tavares
Come Go With Me Teddy Pendergrass
My Hero The Avons
Night Cruizin' The Bar-Kays
Desperate For Your Affection The Ceasars
No Friends At All The Chapells
As Long As I've Got You The Charmels
He Don't Really Love You The Delfonics
It's My Time The Drew Vels
These Are The Things The Emulations
That's The Way Love Goes The Ethics
Mountain Of Love The Five Du-Tones
Danger! She's A Stranger The Five Stairsteps
Still Water The Four Tops
Your Search Is Over The Group From Queens
Big Boy The Jackson 5
To Love Someone The Kaldirons
Pretending Dear The Lovells
Gone! The Promises Of Yesterday The Mad Lads
Pretty One The Masters
I've Got To Keep Loving You The Moments
Hung Up On Your Love The Montclairs
That's The Kind Of Love The Mystics
Sipping A Cup Of Coffee The Ordells
That's All Over The Pentagons
Girl You Better Hurry The Perfections
Crying Won't Stop The Hurt The Si-Berians
I'll Be Alright The Strangers
All Good Things Must End The Topics
Most Of The Pretty Young Girls The Upfronts
Somebody Please The Vanguards
In Love In Vain The Voice Masters
I Can't Hurt You Back The Young Mods
Love, Love, Love Third Flight
Oh How I Wish She Were Mine Timothy Wilson
I've Got To Love Somebody Tommy Tate
Morning Sunrise Weldon Irvine
Blood Is Thicker Than Water William De Vaughn
Be Thankful For What You Got William De Vaughn
L.A. Night Yasuko Agawa
4 Rap Tracks
1 Reggae track
1 Salsa track