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HIP-O SELECT (www.hip-oselect.com)
COMPLETE MOTOWN SINGLES V.11A 1971/various: This latest volume in this essential pop music series has all the hallmarks that have fueled past volumes, but it has some interesting twists and turns that make it even better. First off, this is the first time the output was so prodigious that the output has to be split into volumes to keep it form being too unwieldy. Second off, even with the end of the HDH dynasty and the Motown charm school, the sound had found such a sweet spot that when you play these sides in the car, just letting the discs rip in order, it sounds like the cool R&B stations at the far right end of the AM dial, circa 1971 that you used to listen to on your cheesy earphone in high school when you were bored in class. This is almost like a complete slice of music history all unto itself. Motown didn’t flourish in miasma, but controversy just seemed to fuel it more. 1971 was the end of the riots as well as the ‘go slow’ era and civil rights took a new turn into the collective conscious. Whether gospel, soul, message music, psychsoul or whatever, it all hangs together in such a wonderful way that it is some of the fasted 100+ songs you could listen to. All the great first generation Motown stars are on board in essential performances that you’ll love having under one roof. As always, the package is first class and the accompanying book has all the info you could want. An utterly first class collection that will have you parting with a C-note with a smile on your face.
RAVEN
BONNIE BRAMLETT/Best of 1969-78 Piece of My Heart: First Raven was cool enough to give us a twofer of Bramlett’s two Capricorn albums, now they come back with a meaty part of her career overview that takes us form the beginnings, through her discovery of AWB and into the Capricorn years. A most dandy overview of a full throttle performer when she didn’t have the slightest clue of how to hold back, this is what Bramlett was all about and why the legend endures.
FLAMIN’ GROOVIES/This Band is Red Hot 1969-79: Perennial cult faves, this is the heart of the crew’s first decade when they always seemed on the verge of hitting it out of the park. A nice, fat anthology in the Raven tradition where no stone is left unturned, this look at this slice of classic rock might just turn you on to something you’ll be sorry you overlooked.
DVD SUPPLEMENT
PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
ODD COUPLE the final season: In which Tony Randall won an Emmy and got his pink slip as the series clearly went out with a bang. A high water mark for era sitcoms, this season found the duo working at their ultimate making the laughs fly with no effort and non-stop. Even if you don’t get down with the rest of the series, any fan of classic tv comedy needs to get their hands on the final season for the Couple. A classy way for a classy show to end (except on the network’s part) this will give you more than your share of laughs.
BOYS IN THE BAND: People who’s world is normal with gay marriage and black presidential candidates won’t get the real impact of how things were only 40 years ago, but this was one of the first over ground looks into gay life, and it was certainly a different ball of wax than it is now. A gripping drama where breakdown is the only release, this movie was a real ground breaker in it’s time. It does survive as more than a period piece even if some of it’s pointedness has been blunted but everyone on board here knew how to bring the point home. Yep, anything goes. Check it out.
Volume 32/Number 4
November 4, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record
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