"....Here I Go Again...Thinking With My Heart..."
Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 04/28/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Celebrating 60 years of Atlantic Records, this 2007 European Warner/Rhino set is part of a large series of budget-priced compilations offering generous amounts of classic music for peanuts money.
With all 20 tracks remastered to great sound throughout, "Platinum" gives you 16 soul songs from their 3 albums on the label along with 4 rare non-album 7" single sides. The inlay is basic and lacking in details at this price, so here's a breakdown of what's on what (52:35 minutes)....
USA Albums:
"Tighten Up", May 1968 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8181
(CD Tracks 1, 15, 18 and 20)
"I Can't Stop Dancing", 1968 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8204
(CD Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 19)
"There's Gonna Be A Showdown", August 1969 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8226
(CD Tracks 6, 7, 8, 9, 14 and 16)
USA 7" Singles:
Track 10 is "A World Without Music", 1970 on Atlantic 2693 [A, Non-Album Track]
("Here I Go Again" was it's B-side - but it was also issued as an A in the UK on Atlantic K 10210 in September 1972 and charted at number 11)
Track 11 is "Don't Let The Music Slip Away", 1970 on Atlantic 2721 [A, Non-Album Track]
Track 12 is "Wrap It Up", December 1970 on Atlantic 2768 [A, Non-Album Track]
Track 17 is "Dog Eat Dog", April 1968 on Atlantic 2478 [Non-Album Track, B-side to "Tighten Up"]
Forgotten gems include "Here I Go Again" and "Wrap It Up" - both are sort of Chi-Lites meets Motown dancers - really excellent. "Do The Choo Choo" is awful - a poor attempt at a dance craze after the number one success of "Tighten Up" on both sides of the pond. "Dog Eat Dog" - the rare non-LP B-side of their first British 45 "Tighten Up" on Atlantic 584 185 (May 1968) - is a welcome addition to CD - great 60ts soul. "When You Left Heartache Began" has been on Northern Soul compilations as a track to rediscover too.
Rare tracks, decent sound - this budget-priced remastered compilation is stunning value for money and makes available music that is increasingly hard to find now on original vinyl.
Recommended.
PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker (see REVIEW), Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter (see REVIEW), The Clovers (see REVIEW), Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright"
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1