Solid comp of mid-60s UK R&B/Soul-Influenced material
W. Shute | San Antonio, TX USA | 10/08/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Since Mod was rooted in a love for things soul/r&b-related, it makes perfect sense that this comp would focus on R&B/soul/blues-flavored material, and as a longtime collector of UK material of that kind, I give this a very high thumbs-up. Ranging from early blues-y material from big names such as Bowie and Rod Stewart, to UK soul sensations such as Geno Washington and Herbie Goins, to serious UK blues artistes such as Long John Baldry and Duffy Power, to beat bands with an R&B feel such as Cliff Bennett's Rebel Rousers to Chris Farlowe's Thunderbirds to Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, to some obscure 45's by obscure artists that fit the overall sound, this is a wonderful collection that should interest anyone who's enjoyed the "grey market" collections of similar material on Past & Present and now Psychic Circle. The sound is punchy and crystal clear,
the booklet is full of label shots and picture sleeves and fact-based liner notes, and the whole thing gets better with each play. I don't believe some of this material has ever been on CD, and others were only reissued back in the 80s on vinyl. There are one or two "soul-flavored" pop tracks that are not essential, though they at least offer a change in the sound as you play the album. This is a wonderful collection that should interest anyone who likes, say, Chris Farlowe, John Baldry, the Artwoods, and the like. With EMI's massive vaults, I look forward to future volumes of this type, as long as they are full of lesser-known material as this one is. There was even a Sonny Boy Williamson track opening the set, backing UK jazz/blues vocalist Ottilie Patterson, that I'd never heard before. Highly recommended CD. If you like this, try some of the Psychic Circle comps such as MIX A FIX or HIDE AND SEEK. Just remember, this is club-soul type material often with horns, not Rosalyn/Crawdaddy Simone/Downliners Sect style R&B/punk."
A Tad Misleading
Robert Felberg | Southbury, CT United States | 04/22/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When I read British Mod artefacts, I think freakbeat and such. Not so here. This 25 track comp features some of the best and quite unknown (to me, at least) British R&B bands from as early as 1963. This is not to say that it isn't a kick butt comp- IT IS. Great informative liners. Photos of the labels. Pictures of the bands. All around good stuff. The title is just a bit misleading to me."
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1
