WIWS Banner

The Second Disc

Expanded and Remastered Music News

  • Home
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • News
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Features
    • Release Round-Up
    • Giveaways!
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Release Calendar
    • Coming Soon
    • Now Available
  • About
  • Second Disc Records
    • Full Catalog
  • Contact

/ News

Ooh Baby: Ace Collects Third Volume of Rare "Manhattan Soul"

March 30, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COM

Over the first two volumes of Manhattan Soul, Ace Records' Kent imprint has dug up some of the finest - and indeed, rarest - soul tracks to come out of the Big Apple in the 1960s.  For the third installment of the series, the label has again tapped the vaults of Florence Greenberg's Scepter and Wand Records, plus rival label Musicor, for a definitive chronicle of some of the most urbane R&B of the decade.  Though these outfits were based in New York, productions sometimes came from other soul meccas; Manhattan Soul duly includes them, but all of the tracks fit within the uptown soul aesthetic.

The uptown sound was defined by many of the names on this 24-track collection, among them Burt Bacharach, Luther Dixon, Van McCoy, and Bert DeCoteaux, all of whom created lasting music for both Scepter/Wand and Musicor.  As is often the case on collections such as this, many of the finest tracks come from lesser-known artists.  The opening track from Dan and the Cleancuts, "Open Your Heart (And Let Me In)," has all the gravitas and slow burn of a Phil Spector production for The Righteous Brothers; in this case, this gorgeous soul ballad was arranged in simpler but still effective fashion by the versatile Don Ralke.  Though Ralke was based in Hollywood and not New York, his chart captured the thundering Manhattan soul spirit.

Harlem vocal group The Charts channeled a bit of a Chicago vocal group sound on 1966's "Nobody Made You Love Me," arranged by Bert DeCoteaux, as did The Esquires with "How Could It Be" from 1968.  Though originally from Milwaukee, the "Get On Up" hitmakers were managed and promoted by Chicago's Bill "Bunky" Shepherd, and Scepter had the pick of the singles released on his Bunky label.

Alan Lorber, another veteran with New York credits including a string of collaborations with Neil Sedaka, arranged a 1963 update of the nursery rhyme "Billy Boy" for singer Billy Adams.  Van McCoy wrote Junior Lewis' Latin-tinged "Giving Up," one of the most excitingly dramatic performances on this set.  (Gladys Knight and the Pips charted with it in 1964, believed to be around the same time this version was cut.)

Burt Bacharach contributed mightily to the Scepter catalogue with his groundbreaking songs and productions for Dionne Warwick and others, most co-written and produced with Hal David.  Here, Bacharach is represented with his early partner Bob Hilliard for Tommy Hunt's "Lover."  If the track sounds familiar, it's because it has the same backing track as Chuck Jackson's immortal recording of "Any Day Now."  Perhaps for that reason, "Lover" (with lyrics that don't sit on the track nearly as well as those of "Any Day") sat on the shelf until an Ace release in 1986; it's happily reprised here as one more example of Hunt's soul supremacy.

Strings and a trilling flute proliferate on The Fabulous Dinos' 1962 rendition of Joe South's "That Same Old Song" and another original arrangement comes with the prominent organ on Brenton Wood's amusing 1963 tale of "Mr. Schemer."  Like Joe South, Don Covay also made a name for himself as a solo artist.  Covay co-wrote and sings as a member of The Soldier Boys (so named for the Shirelles hit, natch) on the bouncily upbeat "You Picked Me."

Other famous songwriters are also on display. The torrid ballad "Remind My Baby of Me," from Billy Byers, was the work of Gary Geld and Peter Udell (writing with Andrew Scott) and producer Stan Green, son of Scepter owner Florence Greenberg.  Geld and Udell, of course, went to write Broadway musicals including Purlie and Shenandoah after establishing their pop credentials with such hits as "Hurting Each Other" and "Sealed with a Kiss."  The late Allen Toussaint isn't the first name one might expect to appear on a Manhattan Soul compilation, but the Crescent City legend released an album on Scepter and his productions also appeared on Florence Greenberg's labels.  Johnny Moore's "Haven't I Been Good to You," arranged by Toussaint in brassy fashion and co-written by his associate Allen Orange, is a dark, driving Detroit/Temptations-style groove actually recorded in New Orleans.  Toussaint also produced the slow, smoldering "A Part of Me" for New Orleans singer-songwriter Earl King, with tasty guitar licks and understated brass, while Allen's partner Marshall Sehorn helmed Maurice Williams' classy "Nobody Knows."

The classiest item on this collection might come from Melba Moore.  Her 1966 debut single "Does Love Believe in Me," on Musicor, is an understated slice of sophisticated soul clearly influenced by Moore's friend Dionne Warwick.  Moore's versatility and creamy tone shine here.  She would go on to her greatest successes as a Broadway star and R&B artist in the following decade - one which isn't ignored here.  A handful of seventies tracks appear, too, including the smooth vocal group workout "Now That You're Gone" (1972) from former Platters frontman Sonny Turner and Sounds Limited, and the tough-minded "Fun City Woman" (1973) from vocalist Ann Bailey.

Previously unreleased tracks make Manhattan Soul 3 an even more essential purchase.  The late, legendary producer-songwriter Chips Moman penned the soulful "Every Little Bit Helps," passionately recorded by the gutsy Helen Henry for Wand.  Even more exciting is a never-heard Shirelles version of Luther Dixon's "Two Stupid Feet," also recorded at Wand by The Tabs and Chuck Jackson.  As for the Tabs themselves, their never-before-heard "The Landlord" is a riff on Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-in-Law."

That's not all.  Among Luther Dixon's post-Scepter activities was heading up the Musicor-distributed Dynamo imprint; from their roster comes Lee Moses' gritty "Never in My Life."  The 1968 recording features Moses' raspy, growled vocals which make Otis Redding look positively smooth, as well as a taut lead guitar line that anticipates the funk of the coming decade.  Van McCoy's previously unreleased "What's the Matter Baby" is a sweet and sultry little charmer with a Spanish guitar-flavored accompaniment.  The Shirelles' version appeared on their Foolish Little Girl LP in 1963.

Packed as it is with plush soul, Ace's Manhattan Soul 3 is manna for collectors and fans alike.  It includes a thick, illustrated booklet with track-by-track liner notes provided by compilation producer Ady Croasdell, and all tracks have been remastered to Ace's usual high standard by Nick Robbins.  You can order now at the links below!

Various Artists, Manhattan Soul 3 (Ace/Kent CDKEND 459, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

  1. Open Up Your Heart (And Let Me In) - Dan and the Cleancuts (Scepter 12141, 1966)
  2. Now That You're Gone - Sonny Turner and Sound Limited (Musicor 1459, 1972)
  3. Haven't I Been Good to You - Johnny Moore (Wand 1165, 1967)
  4. Fun City Woman - Ann Bailey (Wand 11265, 1973)
  5. Nobody Made You Love Me - The Charts (Wand 1124, 1966)
  6. Billy Boy - Billy Adams (Wand 133, 1963)
  7. That Same Old Song - The Fabulous Dinos (Musicor 1025, 1962)
  8. Every Little Bit Helps - Helen Henry (previously unreleased Wand recording)
  9. Two Stupid Feet - The Shirelles (previously unreleased Scepter recording) (*)
  10. Lover - Tommy Hunt (originally unissued, first released on Kent LP KENT 059, 1986) (*)
  11. Giving Up - Junior Lewis (originally unissued, first released on Kent LP KENT 087, 1988)
  12. A Part of Me - Earl King (Wand 11230, 1970)
  13. Never in My Life - Lee Moses (Dynamo 115, 1968)
  14. Nobody Knows - Maurice Williams (Scepter 12113, 1965)
  15. Doesn't It Ring a Bell - The Platters (Musicor LP MS 3156, 1968)
  16. How Could It Be - The Esquires (Bunky 7756, 1968) (*)
  17. Mr. Schemer - Brenton Wood (Wand 145 ,1963)
  18. Ooh Baby - Harold Hopkins (Scepter 12120, 1965)
  19. What's the Matter Baby - Van McCoy (previously unreleased Scepter recording) (*)
  20. The Landlord - The Tabs (previously unreleased Wand recording) (*)
  21. You Picked Me - The Soldier Boys (Scepter 1230, 1962)
  22. Remind My Baby of Me - Billy Byers (Scepter 1283, 1964)
  23. Does Love Believe in Me - Melba Moore (Musicor 1189, 1966)
  24. If I Had You - Big Maybelle (originally unissued, first released on Kent LP KENT 061, 1986)

Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Brenton Wood, Melba Moore, The Esquires, The Shirelles, Tommy Hunt, Various Artists

Avatar photo

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

Connect With Joe: FacebookTwitter

You Might Also Like

  • StreamThe Weekend Stream: December 10, 2022
  • Shania Twain Not Just a GirlRelease Round-Up: Week of September 2
  • Bob Crewe Whatever You WantSock It To Me, Baby: Ace Celebrates Bob Crewe on "Whatever You Want"
  • Gary Usher Happy in HollywoodLet's Go to Heaven In My Car: Ace Collects Productions and Songs of Gary Usher

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Upcoming Releases

  • Carole Bayer Sager Sometimes Late at Night
    Sometimes Late at Night: Expanded Edition
    Carole Bayer Sager
    February 03, 2023
  • Carole King Home Again
    Home Again: Live in Central Park
    Carole King
    February 10, 2023
  • Robert Palmer Island Years
    The Island Records Years
    Robert Palmer
    February 17, 2023
See Full Calendar

Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,538 other subscribers

Popular

  • headquarters
    Review: The Monkees, "Headquarters: Super Deluxe Edition" posted on January 24, 2023 | under Reviews
  • Bob Dylan Fragments Bootleg 17 Cover
    Release Round-Up: Week of January 27 posted on January 27, 2023 | under Release Round-Up
  • Marshall Crenshaw 40
    Something's Gonna Happen: Marshall Crenshaw's Expanded Debut Coming Back to CD posted on January 26, 2023 | under News

Comments

  • small faces here come the nice2
    Return To Itchycoo Park: Small Faces' "Here Come The Nice" Deluxe Box Set Arrives In January [UPDATED 12/3] 84 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 3, 2013 | under News
  • the beatles u s albums box2
    British Invasion! The Beatles Unveil "The U.S. Albums" Box Set in January 69 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 12, 2013 | under News
  • Rolling Stones in Mono
    Out of Their Heads: Stones Plan Mono Box Set 47 comments | by Mike Duquette | posted on August 10, 2016 | under News

Music Resources

  • Addicted to Vinyl
  • Crap from the Past
  • Discogs
  • Film Score Monthly
  • IMWAN Forum – From the Vaults
  • MusicTAP
  • Musoscribe
  • Pause & Play
  • Popblerd
  • Popdose
  • Record Racks
  • Slicing Up Eyeballs
  • Steve Hoffman Music Forums
  • Ultimate Classic Rock
  • Vintage Vinyl News
  • Viva La Mainstream
  • Wolfgang's Vault

Labels of Note

  • Ace Records
  • Analog Spark
  • Bear Family
  • BGO Records
  • Big Break Records
  • Blixa Sounds
  • Cherry Red Label Group
  • Craft Recordings
  • Demon Music Group
  • Friday Music
  • Funky Town Grooves
  • Iconoclassic Records
  • Intervention Records
  • Intrada
  • Kritzerland
  • La La Land Records
  • Legacy Recordings
  • Light in the Attic
  • Masterworks Broadway
  • Now Sounds
  • Omnivore Recordings
  • Real Gone Music
  • Resonance Records
  • Rhino Entertainment
  • Rock Candy Records
  • SoulMusic Records
  • Sunset Blvd. Records
  • Supermegabot
  • Varese Sarabande
  • Vinyl Me, Please
  • Wounded Bird
Copyright © 2023 The Second Disc. All rights reserved. · Site by Metaglyphics

The Second Disc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy