All Categories — All Formats  

Quite an unusual little album from Connie Francis – her attempt to join in on the Bonnie & Clyde album craze of the late 60s – but a set that's got a different feel than most! While others were steeped in country and bluegrass sounds, the approach here is mostly in a 30s pop vocal mode – playful arrangements from Don Costa, occasionally augmented to give them an "old time" feel in the studio – and vocals from Connie that are quite different than her usual pop modes – really changed up nicely to fit the different spirit of the tunes. Titles include "Ace In The Hole", "Gold Diggers Medley", "Connie & Clyde", "Maybe", "Button Up Your Overcoat", and "Am I Blue".

Connie's sounding a lot groovier here than in earlier years – thanks to a hip set of tunes from Burt Bacharach, arranged to perfection by the great Claus Ogerman! Claus really gets the right sort of groove down for the record – one that still keeps the airiness of Burt's writing in place, yet which also helps control the emotion of Connie's vocal style, which could otherwise dominate the tunes a bit too much and blow them to pieces. The combination is still a potentially toxic one, but it comes off nicely overall – especially on numbers that are slightly more from the fringes of the Bacharach cannon. Titles include "Trains And Boats And Planes", "Waiting Things", "Wishin and Hopin", "Walk On By", "Make It Easy On Yourself", "Magic Moments/Blue On Blue", "I Say A Little Prayer", and "Promises Promises".

Connie's sounding a lot groovier here than in earlier years – thanks to a hip set of tunes from Burt Bacharach, arranged to perfection by the great Claus Ogerman! Claus really gets the right sort of groove down for the record – one that still keeps the airiness of Burt's writing in place, yet which also helps control the emotion of Connie's vocal style, which could otherwise dominate the tunes a bit too much and blow them to pieces. The combination is still a potentially toxic one, but it comes off nicely overall – especially on numbers that are slightly more from the fringes of the Bacharach cannon. Titles include "Trains And Boats And Planes", "Wanting Things", "Walk On By", "Make It Easy On Yourself", "Magic Moments/Blue On Blue", "I Say A Little Prayer", and "Promises Promises".

In case you've been thinking "they don't make 'em like that anymore", think again – because Jill Barber delivers a sweet set of vocal numbers that take us back to the best crossover years of the late 50s and early 60s! The style is jazz overall, but Barber works in a tightly syncopated style of singing that also has a keen ear for pop as well – a blend that's a bit like styles used by 60s singers like Connie Francis or Brenda Lee – particularly the latter, as there's sometimes a slight, very slight, twang in the vocals. But even better – something those 60s singers never gave us – all tunes here are originals by Jill, many co-written with Les Cooper, who does a beautiful job handling production and overall orchestrations with just the right vibe for the tunes. US release features more tracks than the original Canadian release – and titles include "Be My Man", "Never Quit Loving You", "Chances", "Tell Me", "Old Flame", "A Wish Under My Pillow", "If It Weren't For Loving You", and "All My Dreams".

A wonderful testament to songwriting mastery of Don Covay – one of greatest singing and songwriting double threats ever – and if you didn't already know that, this excellent compilation will set you straight! No tribute to Covay the songwriter would be complete without Aretha Franklin's "Chain Of Fools" – but the set actually goes a lot deeper, with straight-up classic soul treasures, raucous R&B, stirring vocal tunes, some funk and funky rock. The reach is impressive, with the aforementioned Aretha hit, plus songs recorded by Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Joe Tex, The Staple Singers, Wanda Jackson, The Wailers, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Dee Clark, Connie Francis and more! 26 tracks in all, completed by a great set of notes: with "Three Time Loser" by Wilson Pickett, "You’re Good For Me" by Lena Horne, "Don't Drive Me Away" by Ben E King, the funky gem "Sookie Sookie" by Tina Britt, "She Said Yeah" by Joe Tex, "Watch The One Who Brings You The News" by Millie Jackson, "Long Tall Shorty" by The Graham Bond Originization, "Mon Cherie Au Revoir" by Arlene Smith and more.

A great collection of the classic pop-soul-rock songwriting of Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield – very well curated to show how far-reaching their talents are in writing across genres and styles – as well as to more simply play brilliantly as great collection of songs,purely iconic and relatively forgotten ones alike! It's got soul, pop vocal and proto rock icons – Connie Francis, Bobby Darin, The Everly Brothers, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Peggy Lee, Ben E King, The Monkees, Tom Jones, The Tokens, Patti Drew, The Globetrotters, The Tokens and many more – including Neil Sedaka himself! 25 tracks in all: "Stupid Cupid" by Connie Francis, "Keep-A-Walkin'" by Bobby Darin, Calendar Boy" by Dee Dee Sharp, "Get Rid Of Him" by Dionne Warwick, "Foolish Little Girl" by The Cookies, "Magic Colors" by Leslie Gore, "Bewitched" By Peggy Lee, "Walking In The Footsteps Of A Fool" by Ben E King, "Don't Look Over Your Shoulder" by Nanciy Wilson, "You're Knocking Me Out" by Neil Sedaka and more.

A sublime set of 60s New York sounds – some of the best compositions by the team of Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, served up by a host of excellent soul, rock, and pop artists of the time! There's a really unifying feel to the work here – not just the continual themes of sadness and wanting that the pair were known for (especially Ellie!), but also the "wall of sound" style of production, which always seemed to bring their subtle messages to the forefront in really wonderful ways! And while this may be the second set in Ace's series on the pair, all the work here is totally top-shelf – essential stuff that include "Sweet Laurie Fair Laurie" by The Tokens, "Baby I Love You" by The Ronettes, "Every Boy & Every Girl" by The Chiffons, "All Grown Up" by The Exciters, "I Got To Go Back" by The McCoys, "That's All I Ever Want From You Baby" by Manfred Mann, "Goodnight Goodnight" by Ellie Greenwich, "Look Of Love" by Leslie Gore, "The Train From Kansas City" by The Shangri-Las, "Don't Ever Leave Me" by Connie Francis, "I Know It's All Right" by Sam Hawkins, "I Wanna Love Him So Bad" by The Jelly Beans, "That Boy John" by The Raindrops, "I Wonder" by The Butteflies, "Chapel Of Love" by The Dixie Cups, and "Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home" by Darline Love.