Now that the dust has settled after the Pinnacle Distribution debacle, most labels are getting back in gear and offering some tasty ’09 soul treats. Reissue specialist CHERRY RED is leading the way with some excellent archive material – especially on their RPM imprint. Vocal group collectors will be delighted to see JAY AND THE TECHNIQUES ‘Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music’ on the racks. The multi-racial outfit recorded their best material with the legendary JERRY ROSS and many of the 28 tracks are appearing on CD for the first time. Also on CD for the first time is WILLIE HUTCH’S debut album ‘Soul Portrait’ .Recorded in 1969, it’s long been an in-demand item as too are many of the tracks on ‘The Dimension Links’ – a retrospective on girl group THE COOKIES. Great Brill Building pop-soul throughout this album and if that’s the sound that appeals, then you’ll also need the 28 track assemblage of BURT BACHARACH’S earliest songs. Imprint for that one is El, while general pop collectors will also need to investigate CHAD AND JEREMY’S ‘Of Cabbages And Kings’ and Liverpool 60’s maverick MIKE HART’S anthology which includes great covers of ‘Roadrunner’ and ‘Cry, Cry, Cry’.
