Search - Various Artists :: Brunswick Years 1

Sensational soul

Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 02/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The roster at Brunswick Records contained some of the most prolific soul artists of the 50s, 60s and 70s. The sometimes sweet, sometimes energetic and often sophisticated sound of the Brunswick artists propelled their recordings high into the r'n'b and pop charts. The hit-makers include Tyrone Davis, the Chi-Lites, Gene Chandler, the Young-Holt Unlimited and at the top was the incomparable Jackie Wilson with over 50 pop charted hits to his credit. This two-disc collection samples the biggest hits along with some rarities and unreleased sides from the Brunswick vaults. Representing the flagship hits are Jackie Wilson's "Higher And Higher" and "Lonely Teardrops", the Chi-Lites' "Oh Child", Tyrone Davis' "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" and Young-Holt Unlimited's "Soulful Strut". Other excellent sides not frequently found on CD such as Barbara Aklin's "Love Makes A Woman" and the Artistics' "I'm Gonna Miss You" are interspersed with the hits from the major artists. Rounding out the set are a few rarities such as the Lost Generation's "The Sly, Slick and the Wicked" along with some first-time-on-CD sides from Jackie Wilson ("My Heart Is Calling") and others. Sound quality throughout is very good with all songs in stereo except tracks 1,6,8,11,14,16-19 on disc one. While there are backround notes on the included artists and tracks, the liner notes could have been made better with some history on the label itself, given the theme of the collection. Musically however, this is an excellent compilation of some of the very best soul sides from the era."

Where in the hell is Volume 2?

A. J Metz | San Francisco, CA USA | 01/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I deeply regret ordering this comp from a non-Amazon website. It took 2 weeks to arrive, and I was biting my nails the entire time. This comp can basically be defined as a collection of 8 different "greatest hits EPs," spanning the bulk of the Downtown Chicago Soul sound, 1967-1972. Although the label's later years are nearly ignored by this set, this, coupled with a few well-chosen Northern Soul compilations, could easily distill the Chicago Sound down to a few discs. Inclusion of a number of tracks by lesser artists like Lost Generation and Young-Holt Unlimited make this comp especially of value, and bang for the buck. I'd also reccomend the Jackie Wilson comps issued by Charly Records, as what they lack in sound quality, they make up for in value. Ditto anything on Dakar Records."