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The Moods Of Millie Jackson

The Ballads Of Millie Jackson

By Chalky in News Archives
Published 03 Mar 2013

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The Moods Of Millie Jackson magazine cover

Millie Jackson has been beloved by soul fans of every persuasion since she laid down countless seminal tracks at Spring in the 70s. Her career was so successful there that she made nearly 20 albums. Each of them was a mix of current soul styles, with rap an increasing influence towards the latter part of her Spring tenure. Inevitably, some excellent ballads were hidden within LPs dominated by rap numbers that may not have been to many soul fans’ taste.

Millie had such a large output that the very best of her slower numbers make a stunning package that caters to collectors who might want a convenient collection of her best down-tempo moments or music fans who don’t need Millie’s full catalogue.

The classics ‘It Hurts So Good’ and ‘If Loving You Is Wrong’ stand side by side with lesser known gems such as ‘Special Occasion’, ‘Angel In Your Arms’ and ‘I Can’t Say Goodbye’. Compiler Sean Hampsey has programmed the tracks to flow in the same way the “Caught Up” album, with very short gaps between the numbers, sequenced to flow into each other as if the CD was a concept album itself.

The songs come from such illustrious writers as Sam Dees, Phillip Mitchell, Banks & Hampton, Bobby Womack and Allen Toussaint. What makes some of the numbers so powerful is Millie’s involvement as a composer with fellow musicians. She appears as co-writer on four of the tracks.

Kent’s previous Millie Jackson compilation “Soul For The Dancefloor” has been very well received. We resisted naming this one “Soul For The Sofa”, although that might well be its most appropriate setting.

By Ady Croasdell

Buy/Pre Order from Ace Records:

Pre order from Ace Free delivery in the UK

01 There You Are

02 A Love Of Your Own

03 I Can't Say Goodbye

04 From Her Arms To Mine

05 (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right

06 Solitary Love Affair

07 Special Occasion

08 It Hurts So Good

09 Good To The Very Last Drop

10 I'll Be Rolling (With The Punches)

11 I'm Tired Of Hiding

12 I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You

13 How Do You Feel The Morning After

14 Angel In Your Arms

15 I Just Can't Stand It

16 It's Gonna Take Some Time This Time

17 Loving Arms

18 Making The Best Of A Bad Situation

19 I Still Love You (You Still Love Me)

20 A Child Of God (It's Hard To Believe)

- See more at: http://acerecords.co.uk/the-moods-of-millie-jackson#sthash.wo3x3zxm.dpuf



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Guest Dave Turner

Guest Dave Turner

Posted

Although I have all these wonderful tracks on the albums ie Caught Up etc this will still be a "must" buy for me. I'm all moist thinking about numerous car journeys with this on

 

Up there with the very best that soul music has to offer.

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scunnyjack

I bought Ask Me What you Want on holiday in Lloret De Mar in 1972, not really knowing anything about Millie. I was completely knocked out by the B side I Just Can't Stand it. From then I purchased virtually all her albums up to and including her Country one and the one with Isaac Hayes and saw her twice at the Manchester Apollo.

Would have liked to have seen If You're Not Back In Love By Monday and Summer( The First Time ) included, but like Dave and Jaco say, this is a must buy with not a dud track.

Well done Ady and Sean .

 

Steve

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Bully Boy

The Biz ...... Millie is a such an underated talent and her two concept albums "Caught Up" & "Still Caught Up" are Masterpieces ......! But looking at the tracklist, this is gonna be up there with em ...! Thanks Sean !

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Jaco

For me the 'Caught up' albums remain the greatest concept albums of all time.

 

I will never forget the first time I heard "I still love you (you still love me" - the ending is just amazing and I still get goose bumps listening to it.

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Shinehead

For me the 'Caught up' albums remain the greatest concept albums of all time.

 

I will never forget the first time I heard "I still love you (you still love me" - the ending is just amazing and I still get goose bumps listening to it.

Got to agree 2 great albums that still do it today ,the first one totally changed my musical direction from northern to the deeper side of things and after that there was no turning back for me .  

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Rrr

I first purchased "Caught Up" in 1974 ( R&B Album of the year) -

 

and I have been playing it ever since- I agree it is the best concept Album of all time- even better than Ziggy Stardust and Diamond Dogs Concepts - which are also in my all time fave play list (Yes us soulies do like other genres)

 

Millie's cover of Elvis's Loving Arms from " Still Caught Up" is in my opinion the best version of this great song, she sings it with pure passion

 

 

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Sean Hampsey

Thanks Chalky.

 

And thanks everyone for all your comments.

 

Like many of you, I too bought 'Caught Up' back in '74 - and it was a life changing acquisition.

 

Soul fans owe Millie Jackson (and those behind the album and its sequel) a real debt of gratitude.

 

Showcasing her finest, most Soulful, ballads for the 'Moods' project was no easy task, but it has certainly been a privilege.

 

Hot off the press, the first package dropped through the mailbox this morning and it truly is a thing of great beauty - and that's even before it slides into the deck!

 

Ace / Kent have done a magnificent job with the graphics, editing and overall appearance of the package, doing great justice to the incredible music within.

 

Birthday presents solved, for everyone I buy for, for the forseeable future.

 

It's out, in store and online, from this coming Monday - 25th March 2012. 

 

I hope you will enjoy it.

 

Cheers and thanks again.

 

Sean

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