Search - Ltd. The Checkmates :: Love Is All We Have to Give

Disappointing mono reissue

Eckhard Voelker | Germany | 07/13/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Still being in possession of my old 1969 German vinyl copy in spectacular stereo, I am rather dissappointed with this mono digital reissue. Hip-O should tell the customers what they actually get. Although the artwork is exemplary (thick paper sleeve), 2 stars only."

Very disappointing.

Jonathan W. Schult | Mass. Park, NY | 05/19/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Hip-o should let people in on the fact that this is in MONO, truth in advertising would be nice, especially in this day and age. This is truly a disappointment since the hit, "Black Pearl" is in glorious STEREO on the first volume of Rhino's "SOUL SHOTS" CD. The music is great, but the deception of Mono rates only two stars."

Great A side,skipp B completely

Sasha | at sea...sailing somewhere | 12/08/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First,let me state here the I worship the ground Phil Spector walks on - the way he revolutionized pop music,his inovations and that recognisable and often imitated wall of sound to me is pinneacle of 1960s pop music. Some said he copied here and there,but I don't care - we are all influenced with one thing or the other.

This album was recorded at time when,according to his biographers,Spector roamed without clear vision what to do next - sometime between Ike & Tina Turner dissapointment and future The Beatles collaboration,he stumbled upon The Checkmates, Ltd. who performed in Las Vegas and were discovered by than very succesful and influential Nancy Wilson.

The group boasted not one,but two excellent vocalists - Sonny Charles and Bobby Stevens and here they more or less share vocals,with deep voiced Stevens growling through title song,while soaring tenor Sonny Charles got more space and hit of the album.

It starts with a bang - not much introduction here,you just placed needle on your record and before you know it,"Proud Mary" starts rolling with that famous Phil Spector-ian thunder and when it comes to refrain with huge chorus,Wagnerian symphony orchestra and echo,its like orgasm - sounds like footbal stadium sings in the background.Considering this speeded up,soul version is recorded in 1969. its clear where Ike & Tina Turner got inspiration for their slow-to-fast hit and in all honesty its spectacular,less known missing link between rock original and later famous soul classic.

The whole A side is strong,with several very good songs right one after the other but "Black pearl" was a hit and a strange one - not so lyrically (cutest love song from black guy to his sweethart who is doing manual jobs and he is puting her on pedestal) but because music-wise is closest Phil Spector will ever be to Motown sound - realy simple,melodic pop with that familiar huge orchestration sound.

B side is questionable,though. It's one long,(and I mean loooooong) medley with songs from "Hair" and althought there is nothing wrong with choice of music,Phil Spector does his bombastic crazy-genius shtick just a little too much - its grandeur doesn't keep the attention for long and I often find myself skipping B side completely.

Overlooked because of some more known works by Phil Spector this definitely needs to be discovered again and I reccomend it to everybody interested in his music."