Over the last few months we haven’t had too many soul albums from the gang over at Ace/Kent. The UK’s premier reissue label, it seems, has been focusing on the release of some real classy and collectable soul 45s. Check out their treasure trove @ https://www.acerecords.co.uk/
The team though are now getting back into their famed compilation album groove with a fab 23 track tribute to one of soul’s great unsung heroes… EARL YOUNG. Drummer extraordinaire, Earl is now a sprightly 83 and for almost 60 years he was a pivotal figure in the rhythmic engine room of the Philly music scene. Earl’s played on literally hundreds of sessions dating back as far as 1964, propelling so much of the City Of Brotherly Love’s hit list in that time.
A native Philadelphian, Earl began his mighty music odyssey with the Volcanoes and he soon became the drummer of choice for the studios in and around Philadelphian. He featured in the studio band that eventually became MFSB Mk. 1 and, subsequently, the Salsoul Orchestra. He was, of course, also a key member of the Trammps (who morphed out of the Volcanoes) and if you name almost any Philly hit from the last 60 years, you can bet that it was Earl thumping out the beats.
Thus trying to select a selection of songs to reflect Earl’s impact and rhythmic artistry must have been a tough job for the Ace/Kent compliers. They say: “A single CD can do no more than scratch the surface of such an immense discography as Earl’s, but we have tried to balance hits that essentially chose themselves with longtime fan favourites and classy obscurities that will please anyone and everyone who has ever danced to any record that Earl played on.”
So on ‘Groove Machine: The Earl Young Drum Sessions’ you can enjoy plenty of well known items like the still infectious ‘TSOP’, Loleatta Holloway’s pulsating ‘Hit And Run’, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes’ stupendous ‘The Love I Lost’, William DeVaughn’s ‘Be Thankful’, the Thom Bell/Delfonics’ classic ‘Trying To Make A Fool Of Me’and many more!
Their familiarity is tempered with slightly more obscure items like The Ambassadors’ ’Ain’t Got The Love Of One Girl’, Clyde McPhatter’s ‘Please Give Me One More Chance’ and Charles Mann’s cover of Steely Dan’s ‘Do It Again’. Good too to see that the compliers have found space for a Dusty Springfield cut – her version of ‘Silly Silly Fool’ while there’s also the ultimate definition of the PIR sound – the O’Jays’ mighty, mighty ‘Backstabbers’ .
From that cursory mention of just some of the 23 cuts, you’ll see there’s plenty of musical variety. What links it all together is the presence of Earl Young. The collection adds weight to an oft considered thought that the classic 70s Philly sound couldn’t have existed without him! Oh, and we need to mention that there are cuts featuring the Volcanoes and the Trammps too – making this a perfect tribute to the man.
(BB) 4/5
