Modernity Various Artists (Modernists)

£11.70

Genre:
Mod/Club
Label:
Kent
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDKEND 500

This product is also available in these versions:
Modernity (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)

Compilers Ady Croasdell & Dean Rudland’s third CD collection spotlighting the sort of R&B and club soul the original 60s mods could have been danced to – if only they’d had the chance.

40 years of soul and blues mining has given us access to some killer previously locked-away tunes for this third volume in our mod series. A hitherto unheard 1964-vintage Ike & Tina track is big news; the duo’s performance on ‘Walk Home With Me’ features a somewhat square-sounding male chorus which only adds to the charm of this excellent Buck Ram-produced number. The vocal pairing of Aaron Collins’ two sisters, the Teen Queens, was a brief music sensation with ‘Eddie My Love’ in the 50s but, unknown until last year, the three siblings got together and cut the gritty mover ‘Ooh Baby’ and three other tracks for Modern in 1966.

Birdlegs & Pauline encapsulated the mystery of collecting soul records in the 60s and 70s. Their ‘Spring’ was an obscure-as-hell mod classic on the iconic UK Sue label, issued in 1966 on a Guy Stevens whim three years after its US release. What a bizarre name it was for a singing act; they sounded more like a music hall novelty turn. The song hit but the duo split up and there was not even a follow-up. An album’s worth of tracks was recorded, though, and has recently come to light, from which ‘Just Can’t Help Myself’ could have been even better suited for the UK’s mod market – if only they had known.

Laidback soul from New Orleans and its environs is prominent. Willie Tee gives us ‘Who Knows’, a 1963 recording that lay dormant until its release on Ace in 1994. Eddie Bo cut his R&B gem ‘I Found A Little Girl’ that same year. Eddie Shuler’s Goldband and Anla labels provide a rarity from Ike Porter, an early funk master class from Clifton White, previously unreleased rhythm’n’soul gems from King Karl and Rockin’ Sidney, and an unissued popcorn-style ballad from Sticks Herman which is destined for Europe-wide spins.

Up to the Big Apple where Arock’s Gary Klyvert and Carl Gould sang as Gary & Gary on ‘Deuces Wild’, the way-punchier flip of the duo’s Northern Soul number ‘I’m Leaving (For Parts Unknown)’. Charles Hodges’ hip take of the Gershwin’s ‘Lady Be Good’, Willis Jackson’s storming jazz ‘Soul Grabber’ and Chuck Jackson’s ‘Lonely Am I’, though, are more elegant examples of NYC soul.

Back in Los Angeles where future collectibles such as ‘Drop That Gun’ by Teddy Reynolds and ‘Monkey Walk’ by the Kingsmen were being pressed. From the same city comes the topical 1962 sound of ‘Air Travel’ by Ray & Bob, as covered in the UK by the young Chris Farlowe; the Fashionettes’ ‘Earthquake’, which spotlights the girl group sound, so symbolic of the 60s; and Jackie Lee’s ‘The Bounce’, which conjures up images of shimmering discotheque lights and go-go dancers strutting their stuff.

Feminine jazz vocals come from Byrdie Green, who in 1967 made Ma Rainey’s ‘See See Rider’ a happening sound. ‘Sundown’ by the Merced Blue Notes has a similarly cool jazz vibe and session instrumentalists the Birds Of Paradise do a seamless job on ‘Bossa Blue Port’. For Fame completists searching for the slick R&B sound of ‘Go Away With Me’ by Hollis Dixon, we’ve jumped the gun and included it here, while Stax specialists will no doubt be pleased to get their ears on the southern funk of Eddie Kirk’s ‘The Hawg’.

ADY CROASDELL

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Just Can't Help Myself - Birdlegs & Pauline

  • 02 Preview Deuces Wild - Gary & Gary

  • 03 Preview Drop That Gun - Teddy Reynolds

  • 04 Preview I Found A Little Girl - Eddie Bo

  • 05 Preview Go Away With Me - Hollis Dixon & The Keynotes

  • 06 Preview Sundown - The Merced Blue Notes

  • 07 Preview Is It Because You Love Me - Sticks Herman

  • 08 Preview Walk Home With Me - Ike & Tina Turner

  • 09 Preview Ooh Baby - The Teen Queens

  • 10 Preview See See Rider - Byrdie Green

  • 11 Preview Earthquake - The Fashionettes

  • 12 Preview The Bounce - Jackie Lee

  • 13 Preview You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Ike Porter & The Fabulations

  • 14 Preview The Hawg Part 2 - Eddie Kirk

  • 15 Preview Monkey Walk Part 1 - The Kingsmen

  • 16 Preview (Oh) Lady Be Good - Charles Hodges

  • 17 Preview Lonely Am I - Chuck Jackson

  • 18 Preview Who Knows - Willie Tee

  • 19 Preview Bossa Blue Port - The Birds Of Paradise

  • 20 Preview Soul Grabber - Willis Jackson

  • 21 Preview The Warm Up Part 1 - Clifton White & His Royal Knights

  • 22 Preview That's All I Want - King Carl

  • 23 Preview Air Travel - Ray & Bob

  • 24 Preview Looking Through My Spyglass - Rockin' Sidney

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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