4.0 out of 5 stars
Super Baby Cakes, May 10, 2010
This review is from: Super Baby Cakes (Audio CD)
Super Baby Cakes - Jimmy Radcliffe & Friends
Seven more rare but worthy gems have finally been unearthed by Black Patch productions and released by Shout UK as Super Baby Cakes - Jimmy Radcliffe & Friends. This is the second in a series of CD compilations featuring the singing/ writing and production talents of the late great Jimmy Radcliffe, one of the best but virtually forgotten vocalists/ songwriters of his era. The album begins with `Soulville' a powerfully delivered medium tempo eulogy to an imaginary but nevertheless desirable destination. Jackie Wilson cut the best-known version of this song that was featured on his best-selling Higher & Higher album in late '67. `More Than Ever Before' was written and produced for Aretha Franklin's sister Carolyn in '69 and appeared on her Baby Dynamite album. Jimmy's insistent cut has the keener edge and should have seen the light of day many years ago. `Things Are Changing' is an altogether mellower ballad with a folk/ rock flavour that was originally issued by Billy & Wolfe on Coral (/67) and `If It Wasn't For Love' continues that kind of groove, this song was recorded by Mr. Jimmy Bee on 20th Century (/67) and Jay Jordan for Verve (/68) both fairly rare records that had no commercial impact. The great bluesy ballad `Love Put The Tears In My Eyes' is an album highlight, listening to it now it's surprising that this powerful plea has not been recorded by many other singers and still remains an obscure song today. Of the two versions of `It's Not Enough' - Radcliffe's is the strongest vocally but long forgotten group Silent Glo, similar in some ways to the (Young) Rascals, add an up backbeat that could have taken them somewhere had it been issued at the time. Barbara Jean English, who sings on four tracks here, was one of Jimmy's friends and she worked with him at January Music making many demos with and for him. Barbara who had sung with the Fashions and the Clickettes scored a solo medium R&B hit single in September '73 with `You Need Somebody To Love (While You're Looking For Someone To Love)' on Alitha Records. Her silky tones feature best here on `If I Speak About Bobby', `Taste Sour Don't It' and `Your Reputation'. Pat Lundy who had several hits in the mid `70s was songwriter Buddy Scott's girlfriend and cut several demos for the Radcliffe/ Scott team including `Could That Someone Be You' and the excellent `I Want It Clearly Understood'. This fine 20-track compilation contains further interesting tracks by the Relatives, Money Clips and album highlights from Irene Reid (`As Late As The Hour Maybe') and `Take A Look In The Mirror' by Diamond Neval. I understand there are more superb Radcliffe recordings coming so don't miss the opportunity to hear the redux of Jimmy's long overdue musical legacy.
Peter Burns ([...].)
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