Johndelve

It's not a double LP. The vinyl is a straight reissue of his ABC LP. The only way to get the 'bonus' tracks is indeed via the CD. btw his vocal on " I can't stand a woman two timing a man" is phenomenal. God knows why this isn't more of an in demand' 45.

Just to be clear though : there are NO unreleased tracks on what is, I agree, a fine release. Only pity is that it is not on vinyl, given the general lack of interest in CDs.

Isn't it just. I think I have it all too, but I'm delighted Kent have put this out. Their releases nearly always have good sound quality but think they have surpassed themselves here, it sounds crystal clear. And Spencer Wiggins" Uptight Good Woman" is an astonishing record, genuinely incredible power in his singing and way too long since it was mentioned on Soul Source.

Thanks. That is indeed stupid money, especially as another copy of same CD - mint and from UK - is for sale at just over £8. It's what I call "the ebay syndrome". Clueless people are trying to sell things on there all the time that can be purchased on discogs at a fraction of the price. Agree that the Backbeats series was very good.

Just as a matter of interest: which ones are fetching "stupid money"? I've just checked around ten at random on discogs and all are only around a fiver...

Every LP that Soul 4 Real puts out is essential, but this is the best one yet ; just played it through three times in a row. Even if I have nearly all these cuts already, it's great to hear them in such a setting. Alex Subinas has great taste and doesn't simply go for the obvious cuts. Betty Swann's magnificent "It's time to say goodbye" is an inspired choice, just about the only track I know that has male and female backing singers alternating and I'm delighted that Doris Troy's exquisite "He Don't belong to me" is on here, the first time ever on an LP. No album in 2024 will be better than this.

And also, as far back as 1966, there was a specific dance created called "Function at The Junction" - that Shorty Long had a hit with. That is more or less the same as line dancing, so it is hardly a new thing in black culture, although clearly it is a radical and unwelcome departure for "Northern soul".

In her own interview Elsie states that she left the business circa 1966/1967.....about a decade before many of the songs above were recorded....

You're right, absolutely no way this makes any sense. In so many different ways. For a start, as said above, you can't record backing vocals to a song - "Shining Star" - that wasn't even written at the time. No technology in the world can make that a reality. Yes, of course, if it was just "oohs" and "aahs" but not if one is singing actual words. (Plus the fact that the backing vocals on that record are clearly performed by men. As indeed are all the sixties' Manhattans records I know.) Elsie Baker sounds a smart, likable and very switched on woman based on an interview I listened to but she also seems to be claiming in that interview that either- it isn't quite clear exactly what the claim is - The Debonaires recorded "Baby Love" before the Supremes or sang the backing vocals on it. That actually makes more logical sense than the Manhattans' story but I still suspect would be news to most people.

Arrived yesterday. Very good stuff. Recommended.

And, I should add, on the b-side of her rather awful "Sexyonic" 12 inch from 1989.

This is another slightly different version of a track called " Boy what you gonna do" on her "Fever all through the night" LP. Although the single came first I prefer the LP take......

Agreed, very good stuff. I have played the releases by The Legendary Beyons, Slickaphonic and Milton Davis a great deal over last year or so.....

Well they are, both on "Call on me /That's the Way Love is "...

Well done by Ace/Kent on putting this - Calvin's first ever LP - out, It's all unpretentious , slightly dated to be fair, stuff but I'm certainly enjoying it.