Been a while since Ace /Kent have added to their series celebrating the great songwriters, but the latest addition to the series has been well worth the wait!
The generous 24 tracker that is ‘A Different World’ is a wonderful and long deserved tribute to the craft and art of Brian and Eddie Holland and the late Lamont Dozier… simply known as H-D-H to millions of soul lovers!
The triumvirate’s story is familiar; for context though, it’s evident that the Detroit trio fully understood what Berry Gordy was all about. Young men themselves, H-D-H knew how to deliver his concept of “The Sound Of Young America” and, given their heads, how they delivered! The music statistic books will tell you just how many hits they wrote (and produced) at Motown and, of course, the hits kept coming when the threesome left the Gordy fold in 1968.
This compilation, named for the included Four Tops 1968 H-D-H written and produced hit, ‘I’m In A Different World’ focuses on the team’s work up until the time Lamont Dozier walked out on the two Hollands in 1973 and what a treasure trove it is! And like all the previous Ace/Kent Songwriter compilations, the compliers have skillfully mixed the well known songs and recordings with lesser known items and intriguing versions of the trio’s songs!
Interestingly, given H-D-H’s workplace, there are only eight Motown tracks. The most famous maybe being Kim Weston’s ‘Helpless’ and Martha and the Vandellas’ iconic ‘Jimmy Mack’. Elsewhere, the Motown offerings include Chris Clark’s version of ‘Love’s Gone Bad’, Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston’s take on ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’ and the Supremes look at ‘Heaven Must Have Sent You’.
Other included “Motown songs” from non-Motown artists included Brenda Lee’s cover of ‘How Sweet It Is’, Vanilla Fudge’s famous interpretation of ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’, dear Dusty Springfield’s version of ‘A Love Like Yours’, Bettye Swann’s revered recording of ‘This Old Hear Of Mine’, Barbara Mason’s take on ‘Come See About Me’, the oft-neglected Laura Nyro’s reading of ‘Come And Get These Memories’ and the Fall’s version of ‘There’s A Ghost In My House’. The inclusion of that last one, we’ve noticed, has caused some controversy on various soul forums!
Inclusions from H-D-H’s post Motown work include Dionne Warwick’s lovely 1973 Warner Bros released ‘I Think You Need Love’ and the trio’s very own anthemic ‘New Breed Kinda Woman’. And where would a H-D-H compilation be without Freda Payne’s ‘Band Of Gold’ ?
As ever with Ace/Kent releases, ‘A Different World’ includes a booklet packed with label shots, copious other images and an extensive sleeve note that gives deep detail about the featured songs. Thus, it’s an essential tribute to a stellar writing team and, like we said, well worth the wait!
(BB) 4/5
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