Playboy – THE MARVELETTES***

Playboy/Mix It Up/Beechwood 4-5789/I’m Hooked/I Think I Can Change You/Forever/Someday Someway/ Goddess Of Love/You Should Know/(I’ve Got To) Cry Over You

The female R & B group The Marvelettes provided Motown with their first US No. 1 hit single, the Smokey Robinson penned Please Mr Postman. Their second LP Playboy included the US top ten title track plus the top twenty Beechwood 4-5789. “This is my favourite Marvelettes album with the hits Playboy and Beechwood 4- 5789. I love Gladys Horton raspy edgy voice. Mix It Up is a good dance number in which the girls start naming dances that were popular at that time. I'm Hooked has an energetic dance beat. I Can Change You is also cool where the harmony is so tight.”

“The Marvelettes are far more endearing and conversational than I previously gave them credit for; compositional confines notwithstanding. Horton's touch of husky grit really is a stand-out voice in the genre, the details that make Playboy so charming. This is the first time The Marvelettes have material befitting their talent. Whatever the case, Playboy is one of those small treats for when you need something fun and breezy; and there's nothing wrong with that.”

“Despite being one of Motown's first acts, The Marvelettes didn't record as many albums as their other big names, but the girls from Inkster, did record some good LPs. Playboy, after their big hit, was one of the better ones, The single Playboy flew up the charts; its message a warning to girls. A spirited Beechwood 4-5789 keeps the hits flowing, its teen sounding backing vocals and Gladys Horton's innocent lead are contagious. Forever is a sentimental thriller. A hopeful Someday Someway was a staple of their early stage shows. This is far more enjoyable than their Please Mr. Postman debut.”

London By Night – FRANK SINATRA***

London By Night/Jeepers Creepers/Ebb Tide/My Blue Heaven/The Moon Was Yellow/The Lonesome Road/On The Sunny Side Of The Street/Where Are You/South Of The Border/Something Wonderful Happens In Summer/ Night & Day/Autumn Leaves

London By Night was a somewhat opportunist UK only release by Capitol to coincide with Frank Sinatra’s European appearances and new British themed album from Reprise. It reached No. 9 on the NME album chart.

“A Capitol compilation perhaps released with an eye to outwardly mirroring the Reprise LP Great Songs From Great Britain (released the same year in the United Kingdom). Apart from the title track and striking cover, there is little else of a British flavour.”

“It definitely looks like Capitol was trying to hang onto the coat-tails of the Reprise release. I do love the cover though.”

“It was issued by Capitol in the UK to commemorate Sinatra's appearances there during his 1962 world tour.”

Greatest Hits – RAY CHARLES*****

Them That Got/Georgia On My Mind/Unchain My Heart/I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town/The Danger Zone/I’ve Got News For You/Hit The Road Jack/Ruby/I Wonder/Sticks & Stones/But On The Other Hand Baby/ One Mint Julep

This compilation covers the Ray Charles ABC-Paramount singles released during 1960-61, including the two US chart toppers Hit The Road Jack and Georgia On My Mind. (US:5 UK:16)

“You can hear Charles' develop his seminal brand of soul from roots in gospel, blues, R & B and jazz. ABC freed Charles to explore more broadly than had Atlantic, bringing in Latin rhythms, singing the works of country and Tin Pan Alley songwriters, adding strings, and alternating between the sassy call-and-response of The Raelets and a smooth backing chorus.”

“I really love his classic gems that helped shape the essence of what R & B is like today. I think this is a very strong album that is sure to tell you that Georgia will always be on your mind, and that you heart will never be un-chained to the soul of life that Ray Charles brought to the music industry.”

“He is a one-of-a-kind musician with a distinctive sound of his own. Very enjoyable.”

“Ray Charles was absolutely phenomenal. Even though he had a chequered past he overcame the obstacles to become a hugely successful artist. I will always have great respect for the memories he gave us.”

“This collection of songs includes a lot of his genuine standards including Hit The Road Jack!, the elegant and sombre Georgia On My Mind, as well as Unchain My Heart.”

The Garland Touch – JUDY GARLAND****

Lucky Day/I Happen To Like New York/Comes Once In A Lifetime/Shine On Harvest Moon-Some Of These Days-My Man-I Don’t Care(Medley)/Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe/Sweet Danger/You’ll Never Walk Alone/Do I Love You/More Than You Know/It’s A Great Day For The Irish

The final Capitol album release from the legendary Judy Garland, The Garland Touch, was something of a disappointment after the stellar Carnegie Hall concert LP. (US:33)

“Having waited a year for Judy Garland to follow up her chart-topping, gold-selling, Grammy-winning Carnegie Hall album, Capitol Records gave up and cobbled together this LP out of previously released tracks and stray sessions. She is certainly in good voice on these recordings, and even if this patchwork collection is not a worthy successor to Judy At Carnegie Hall, it contains some winning performances.”

“Yes, this is a compilation album, but this is, nonetheless, a superb collection of songs from the incomparable Judy Garland. She is in great voice on every song. There isn't a single number that is a disappointment by any means.”

“This is the Judy of the late 50s, early 60s whose voice was rich and deep, and which she could make soar. Favourites include I Happen To Like New York, an obscure Cole Porter composition which she flies with. Her voice in this collection is incredible and listening to the selections is sublime.”

“It was a puzzling wreck all in all, but Garland is so brilliant on this music her sheer talent overcomes the wreckage her record company did to her. She never recorded for Capitol again.”

“Judy Garland clearly exuded a singular talent, a type of genius found only once in a lifetime. She could dance, act faultlessly and she sang extraordinarily well as you'll hear on this LP. Judy is in excellent form throughout, these songs may not have been recorded all at the same time; but they flow together quite well and it's really a fine album in every way.”

“This last album for Capitol Records is a fine piece of history. Judy Garland was one of the best singers of the 20th century and is in excellent voice throughout. She shines on so many songs that it is hard to pinpoint which are better than the rest.”

Golden Apples Of The Sun – JUDY COLLINS****

Golden Apples Of The Sun/Bonnie Ship The Diamond/Little Brown Dog/Twelve Gates To The City/Christ Child Lullaby/Great Selchie Of Shule Skerry/Tell Me Who I’ll Marry/Fannerio/Crow On The Cradle/Lark In The Morning/ Sing Hallelujah/Shule Aroon

Influential folk singer Judy Collins furthered her growing reputation with her second LP Golden Apples Of The Sun consisting of traditional folk material accompanied by acoustic guitar.

“With her second LP release Golden Apples Of The Sun Judy shows significantly more confidence as a singer. What is interesting is the obscurity of these traditional folk songs, although she does branch out into some other genres, such as gospel with Twelve Gates To The City. The best tracks would be the title song, the ballad Fannerio and Crow On The Cradle."

“Her second album is not quite so intense as her debut. Nonetheless, it makes up for this slight deficiency with its heartbreaking sadness that announces itself from the opening title track.”

“This early album is more of historical interest, because it is not quintessential Judy Collins. However, if you remember the times you can appreciate that this was a period when folk music did not mean commercially viable songs but more 'authentic' music. The bottom line is that fans of that voice are going to appreciate hearing it at the beginning of one of the most celebrated careers in folk music.”

“All in all, this is traditional folk music at its absolute darkest and most intense. These are songs that truly told the stories of ordinary people from the times they were written in a way that is hard to comprehend for people today.”

“Judy Collins' Golden Apples Of The Sun is a marvellous musical rendition of a beautiful poem - my favourite song back in the late 60s. Though she continued recording traditional songs as and when it suited her, I don't think she recorded another album dominated by traditional songs.”

“The title track is a poem originally written by W B Yeats, but later set to music. British folk fans should be familiar with Lark In The Morning, a traditional English song still popular in folk circles. There are several other excellent tracks here, including some of Irish origin.”

At The Village Gate – HERBIE MANN***

Comin’ Home Baby/Summertime/It Ain’t Necessarily So

At The Village Gate captured a live jam session from jazz flautist Herbie Mann and his band, featuring two extended tracks from George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess. (US:30)

“Side A is very nice, very laid-back, late-night jazz. It starts with Comin' Home Baby, a twelve-bar blues with a distinctive descending chromatic line. As for the next track Summertime, George Gershwin presumably didn't realize, at the time he wrote it, that this song is actually a samba, but the ensemble makes a strong case for that proposition here. Side B is devoted to another song from Porgy and Bess - It Ain't Necessarily So which serves merely as an excuse for a twenty minute jam. Mann's solo is quite uninspired; the best part of the piece is the bass solo.”

“The first few measures immediately set the tone for the entire set: the bass solo for a good 24 to 32 beats, the same chord syncopated. The most sublime funk; then the flute is there, before you even know it. It captures your mind, and focuses your intensity, then pushes you back out to a distant observer.”

“Comin' Home is one of those funky resonate pushy sounds that grabs and hits you with its rhythm, melody and changes. Mann gets a lot out of his instrument; you just feel the vibrations - his instrument directly to your body.”

“The sound quality is not great, but not terrible. A treasure of jazz flute and of Herbie Mann. A snapshot of live and intimate jazz club music.”

“This really is one of the coolest jazz albums I’ve ever heard. Very deep, hypnotic and atmospheric. The vibe reminds me of some of the best stuff by the modern jazz quartet, but with a million times more soul. There are some fantastic solos here.”

“With this album, Herbie Mann successfully opened the doors to contemporary 'groove jazz' and the joys it holds.”

“I have still not heard what I would call an impressive performance from Herbie Mann. He's just so middle-of-the-road when it comes to jazz flute, striving for perfection instead of soul. He's plays with no fire and passion. When I compare his solos with other jazz flutes he sounds like a child. But the band is fine.”

Viva Bossa Nova – LAURINDO ALMEIDA***

Naked City Theme/Lazy River/Ramblin’ Rose/Maria/Petite Fleur/Teach Me Tonight/Lollipops & Roses/Moon River/Desafinado/Mr Lucky/One Note Samba/Theme From Route 66

Viva Bossa Nova was the only chart album of Brazilian guitarist and bandleader Laurindo Almeida. He helped promote bossa nova music which became very popular in the USA during the early 1960s. (US:9)

“Desafinado is synonymous with Laurindo Almeida and the two go together as if destiny deemed it. All told, a wonderful recording and one that should certainly form the centre-piece of the collection of even the most critical of bossa nova aficionados.”

“Largely responsible for the Brazilian/North American 'samba jazz' that would eventually catch on in the form of a musical trend known as bossa nova.”

“This was the first bossa nova music I ever heard, and immediately I liked it.”