Various Artists - "Shakin' Fit!" (CD, Candy Records - 1992)

Well, when was the last time this space honored the last word of its name?
Quite long back right? I was checking up to see what to offer and I discovered that somehow "Shakin' Fit!" slipped my attention. OK, three years back I had through these pages the first (vinyl and with less tracks) incarnation ("Whip It On'Em"), but here's the 'full' version, the one most people knows. Actually this CD gathers the first two vinyl volumes of the three these series had but I can't remember their names right now and Crypt's website doesn't have them now listed to make everyone's life easier. This is probably my fave of all these millions official/semi-official and bootleg comps about Rhythm & Soul. Great sound, great packaging and great song selection! And you know, some of these gems have been introduced to the younger generations by the Detroit Cobras' movement for the salvation of Black America's VERY IMPORTANT rhythm tradition! It's not the 'rare' factor that makes this CD such a COOL accumulation, but the SWEAT! You can actually smell a thousand people's body fluids (or more!) dancing to the sounds of Mickey Lee Lane's "Hey Sa-Lo-Ney", Don & Dewey's frenetic "Heartattack", Don Gardner's twangy ass-shaker "My Baby Likes to Boogaloo" or David Jones "Boss with the Hot Sauce" (you can do no wrong with a song having a title like this!). The Nuggets equivalent for 60s Rhythm & Soul!

The Mar-Keys/Booker T. & The MG's - "Back To Back" (Atlantic/Stax, 1967)

Hi there! I had an argument (all my life seems to be an argument but i really like it, haha!) the other day 'bout some same old stupid debate, on who's the best guitarist ever walked this earth, blah blah, blah. OK, i have a tremendous respect for Jimi but he was a bit too show-off for me. You know, my negative/reactional nature drove me all these years to go find some 'replacements' as answers to the 'public's opinion' on many things considered as 'classics' or 'untouchables'. So you can't hold all these Eric Claptons, Jeff Becks, Richie Blackmores, Stevie Ray Vaughans and let me preach in the names of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Link Wray and Steve Cropper!
And all this weekend was an enormous trip to what great Steve Cropper did. From Booker T & the MGs to Mar-Keys, and from Blues Brothers to every single southern soul star was choiced to back up as the master six stringer of the Stax/Volt factory. For some strange reason this record wasn't heard more than two times since the day bought it. For some strange reason i listened to it back to back, four times in a row. A live at Paris back in 1967 recording, when the Stax/Volt Revue, was setting up Europe's stages on fire. Really now, this is as hot as it gets, and for sure one of the best and most underestimated live documents ever! The two legendary Memphis outfits, with Steve Cropper of course doing his thing, delivering the most solid groove ever waxed! This is substantially what should be called 'party music'!

Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band - "Shake a Tail Feather Baby!" (Piccadilly, 1967)

Not to be confused with the Detroit igneous shouter Gino Washington, this Geno was not bad at all - even though my personal fave of the two, is the one with an "i" on his name. Geno Washington was an American Air Force GI, stationed in England during the period of the big R&B Boom! Clever enough to understood this, got involved with the growing day by day culture of the Mods and became the frontman of a well oiled machine under the name of the Ram Jam Band. His musical background had a healthy dose of Little Richard, Wilson Pickett and Don Covay and even though his voice was not something special to be remembered of, his energy and especially on stage, made him win with his own sword a secure place among this period's pantheon.
Geno with the Ram Jam early on scored a hit on Piccadilly in 1966 with the "Water" and even though never entered the highest positions of the charts, made some more appearances in there through the years that followed. Arguably their best were at concerts cause they had the skills to easily pack a place and make the sharp dressed crowd to sweat their suits. Of the last clause's truth -  people today usually stands (when it comes for recorded material) on their first two live records (" Hand Clappin' Foot Stompin' Funky-Butt...Live!" & "Hipsters, Flipsters, Finger-Poppin' Daddies!") but... the heretic lunatic of this space prefers their only (?) studio recorded long play, for a presentation. "Shake A Tail Feather Baby!" had it all! A great front sleeve and a good dose of Memphis Soul execution-ed in its RAWER and FUNKIER  instances! With Stax in mind ("Raise Your Hand," "Knock on Wood", "Who's Foolin' Who") or rock n' roll ("Bonie Moronie"), Geno and the Ram Jam delivered a classic of gritty vocals, wailin' saxes with pounding drums and phunky strings. The keywords on this, should be "Energy" and "Vitality". Perhaps, the best ever approach of the Stax sound, outside America.
320 Kbps

Phunky Butt!

Various Artists - "For Dancers Only" (Orig. Kent 1982 - 6T's Rhythm & Soul Special Part 2)

It was 1982 at the beginning of the Ace Records empire. Chiswick Records, the label from which Ace involved had started looking on the reissue market. It was already behind some (classic now) Rockabilly & 50s Rock N Roll compilations and master Ted Carroll thought that it was many soul sides on the vaults from classic 60s labels that waited for so long someone to re-discover them. And that's when enters the picture Croasdell. A huge soul music fanatic and dj that looked at every place to discover or maybe better, unearth forgotten soul classics. Carroll invited him to compile an LP's worth of material from the archives of the Kent/Modern labels. What came out some months later was this. For all Northern Soul fans, this is the first thing you should own. First thing of course after your graduating from the big Motown, Stax and Atlantic schools! And that's what you get here, several non-hit classics of the era by monsters like Ike & Tina, Z.Z. Hill, the Ikettes or Mary Love. There's all over the place a danceable atmosphere infiltration-ed thorough the prism and sound of Motown. "For Dancers Only" LP made it through today and still remains a classic! Something like a "Nuggets" or "Pebbles" comp. for Soul music.  It has till now two at least re-issues on CD with the last one as a replica of the original LP, only smaller to fit this digital thing. From start to finish a rhythm generator and as the front sleeve writes, it's "Where soul begins..."
320Kbps

 For Dancers ONLY!

Randy Cozen's Top 100 (6T's Rhythm & Soul Special Part 1)

I'll never understand why bootleggers never picked on this 'list'. Through the pass of time this 'list' upgraded to a nearly legendary status among mods and soul fanatics and with a good reason, and remains even today a mystery why not officially and properly compiled by someone? Anyway, let's try take things from the start...

Who is Randy Cozens?

Even if you are an epidermic soul listener, there's no way to not know who Randy Cozens was. A familiar ace face to Britain's mod crowd and co-founder of the 6T's Rhythm & Soul Club, along with Ady Croasdell, today people refers to him as a legendary pioneer of the Northern Soul scene. Like many music fanatics around the world, Randy's 'habit' was to make up tapes with his favorite songs and gave them with one and only purpose. To make people dance and have a good time with these selections. 

'The List' 

Once upon a time was a now defunct music paper that called, "Sounds". Randy as the legend says, was sending constantly letters to this sheet urging the mods of the day to try found their roots in the music of their forefathers. At the time mods had their idols in punk-mod bands like the Jam. Soul and Rhythm & Blues had been forgotten by these crowds. Finally, 'Sounds' ask him to make a Mod Top 100 list with gems of his tastes, in no particular order. Randy came out with this and it was published with the Bank Holiday issue of Sounds in August of 1979. That list was the kiss of life in the decadent then Northern Soul scene and even in our days is something like pyx for starters in the magic world of Soul music.

PS: Actually, this Top100 isn't 100% a Soul scroll. It contains 97 Rhythm & Soul tracks, 2 Ska and 1 red herring to prevent collectors' claiming they own all 100!

So here it is:

1. What’cha Gonna Do About It – Doris Troy (Atlantic)

2. So Far Away – Hank Jacobs (Sue)

3. Come See About Me – Nella Dodds (Pye Int)

4. Hole In The Wall – George Stone (Stateside)

5. Que Sera Sera- The High Keys (London)

6. Getting Mighty Crowded – Betty Everett (Fontana)

7. I Don’t Wanna Fuss – Sugar Pie Desanto (Pye Int)

8. Walking The Dog – Rufus Thomas (London)

9. Hold What You Got – Joe Tex (Atlantic)

10. Time Is On My Side – Irma Thomas (Liberty)

11. I Can’t Believe What You Say – Ike And Tina Turner (Sue)

12. The Drifter – Ray Pollard (UA)

13. Any Day Now – Chuck Jackson (Stateside)

14. The Monkey Time – Major Lance (Columbia)

15. La De Da, I Love You – Inez And Charlie Foxx (Sue)

16. The Cheater – Bob Kuban And The In Men (Stateside)

17. I’m In Your Hands – Mary Love (King)

18. The Jerk – The Larks (Pye Int)

19. I Had A Talk With My Man – Mitty Collier (Pye Int)

20. Oh No Not My Baby – Maxine Brown ((Pye Int)

21. Gotta Have Your Love – The Sapphires (HMV)

22. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love – Solomon Burke (Atlantic)

23. La La La La La – The Blendells (Reprise)

24. Ride Your Pony – Lee Dorsey (Stateside)

25. Selfish One – Jackie Ross (Pye Int)

26. Tired Of Being Lonely – The Sharpees (Stateside)

27. El Watusi – Ray Barretto (Colombia)

28. Treat Her Right – Roy Head (Vocallion)

29. Who’s Cheating Who? – Little Milton (Chess)

30. Out Of Sight – James Brown (Phillips)

31. Mercy Mercy – Don Covay (Atlantic)

32. Open The Door To Your Heart – Darrell Banks (Stateside)

33. A Little Piece Of Leather – Donnie Elbert (Sue)

34. Go Now – Bessie Banks (Red Bird)

35. Searching For My Love – Bobby Moore (Chess)

36. You Can’t Sit Down – Phil Upchurch Combo (HMV)

37. The Duck – Jackie Lee (Fontana)

38. Doctor Love – Bobby Sheen (Capitol)

39. She Blew A Good Thing – The American Poets (London)

40. Watch Your Step – Bobby Parker (Sue)

41. Love Ain’t Nothin’ – Johnny Nash (Pye Int)

42. Randy – Earl Jean (Colpix)

43. Rancid Polecat – Ian And The Clarks (Liberty)

44. Oowee Baby I Love You – Fred Hughes (Fontana)

45. A Touch Of Venus – Sandy Wynns (Fontana)

46. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Nina Simone (Phillips)

47. Ain’t Love Good, Ain’t Love Proud – Tony Clark (Pye Int)

48. I’ve Got A Woman – Jimmy McGriff (Sue)

49. Candy – The Astors (Atlantic)

50. Smokie Joe’s La La – Googie Rene Combo (Atlantic)

51. Mr Bang Bang Man – Little Hank (London)

52. It’s Rough Out There – Jerry Jackson (Cameo)

53. Oh How Happy – Shades Of Blue (Sue)

54. Ain’t Nobody Home – Howard Tate (Verve)

55. Dimples – John Lee Hooker (Stateside)

56. Long After Tonight Is Over – Jimmy Radcliffe (Stateside)

57. Twine Time – Alvin Cash (Stateside)

58. Lipstick Traces – The O’Jays (Liberty)

59. Let The Good Times Roll – Bunny Sigler (Cameo Parkway)

60. There’s Nothing Else To Say Baby – The Incredibles (Stateside)

61. Peaches And Cream – The Ikettes (Stateside)

62. What’s Wrong With Me Baby – The Invitations (Stateside)

63. Hole In The Wall – The Packers (Pye Int)

64. Finders Keepers – Gloria Jones (Stateside)

65. Nothing Can Stop Me – Gene Chandler (Stateside)

66. See You At The Go Go – Dobie Gray (Pye Int)

67. Love Makes The World Go Round – Deon Jackson (Atlantic)

68. Cool Jerk – The Capitols (Atlantic)

69. The In Crowd – Ramsey Lewis Trio (Chess)

70. Rescue Me – Fontella Bass (Chess)

71. 60 Minutes Of Your Love – Homer Banks (Liberty)

72. Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven – Chris Bartley (Cameo)

73. A L’il Loving Sometimes – Alexander Patton (Capitol)

74. You’ve Got To Pay The Price – Al Kent (Track)

75. Make Me Yours – Bettye Swann (CBS)

76. The Pain Gets A Little Deeper – Darrow Fletcher (London)

77. Talk Of The Grapevine – Donald Height (London)

78. Always Something There To Remind Me – Lou Johnson (London)

79. Steal Away – Jimmy Hughes (Pye Int)

80. Yes I’m Ready – Barbara Mason (London)

81. Gee Whiz – Carla Thomas (Atlantic)

82. My Girl Sloopy – The Vibrations (London)

83. Gypsy Woman – The Impressions (HMV)

84. You Don’t Know Like I Know – Sam And Dave (Atlantic)

85. I’ll Take Good Care Of You – Garnett Mimms (UA)

86. Nothing Takes The Place Of You – Toussaint McCall (Pye Int)

87. The 81 – Candy And The Kisses (Cameo)

88. Mr Pitiful – Otis Redding (Atlantic)

89. This Can’t Be True – Eddie Holman (Cameo)

90. You Got Too Much Going For You – Jimmy Beaumont (London)

91. Help Me – The Spellbinders (CBS)

92. Higher And Higher – Jackie Wilson (Coral)

93. That’s Enough – Rosco Robinson (Pye Int)

94. I Wanna Be – The Manhattans (Sue)

95. Spring – Birdlegs And Pauline (Sue)

96. Peace Of Mind – The Magnificent Men (Capitol)

97. Hey-Sah-Lo-Nay – Mickey Lee Lane (Stateside)

98. Mercy – Willie Mitchell (London)

99. Gypsy Woman – Derek And Patsy (Island)

100. Dr Kitch – Lord Kitchener (Jump Up)

A Final Note 

As i said many times on my previous posts i can not see myself as a collector but as a music fanatic. I do have a large amount of these tracks (specifically 58 of the 100) but not all. For this reason the tracks behind the links above, are in various bit rates and not in the usually 320 Kbps that this blog accustomed his visitors. I promise you if i ever got them all, to do it myself . I'd like to thank from the bottom of my SOUL this guy/gal who gathered all these gems and upload them for our pleasure!

Part 1 (1 - 25) 

Part 2 (26 - 50) 

Part 3 (51 - 75) 

Part 4 (76 - 100)