Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing [Import, Original recording remastered]

Archie Bell & The Drells | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 22, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: MSI:WEA/RHINO
• ASIN: B0006B5ZVC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292,294 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tighten Up, Pt. 1

2. Tighten Up, Pt. 2

3. I Don't Wanna Be a Playboy

4. You're Mine

5. Knock on Wood

6. Give Me Time

7. In the Midnight Hour

8. When You Left Heartache Began

9. A Thousand Wonders

10. A Soldier's Prayer, 1967

11. Dog Eat Dog

12. Tighten Up, Pt. 1 [Original Single Version]

13. I Can't Stop Dancing

14. Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay

15. Do the Choo Choo

16. You're Such a Beautiful Child

17. Monkey Time

18. Do You Feel It?

19. I've Been Trying

20. Jammin' in Houston

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy party music!, March 25, 2006

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing (Audio CD)

It's an interesting bit of irony that one of the happiest and joyful songs in R&B history-AB&TD's "Tighten Up," was #1 during one of Black America's saddest moments-the assassination of Martin Luther King. With that said-on to the review.

"Tighten Up" is simply impossible not to like. This record is all about joy and fun. Fortunately, this Cd has the long version that is not usually played on oldies radio, with the killer bassline intro. This also has the seldom heard (but just as wonderful) "Tighten Up pt. 2." The Drells doo-woppy background singing "Tighten up-do the tighten up" as well as the gritty-but pretty funk of the TSU Toronadoes (it's a shame that the Toronadoes' own CD is so mediocre, but this CD ensures their legacy as a great R&B band) give "Tighten Up Pt. 2" added dimension. The radio edit is also included for comparison.

"Do You feel it" continues the party with some excellent hammond organ from the Toronadoes (If you're a sucker for soulful, bluesy, and jazzy hammond organ like I am, then this is surely for you), while "I Can't Stop Dancing" (which I fondly remember from childhood) and "Jammin in Houston" covers similar ground.

Speaking of covers, AB&TD do some really good covers of some popular soul tunes of the time. Their version of "The Monkey time" is a bit too fast for those fond of the original, but they do a great job with "I've Been Trying" and "Goin Out of My Head," etc. Archie also does a good cover of Otis Redding's "Sittin on the Dock of the Bay" and personalizes it with lyrics about Archie's military service in Germany (Contrary to popular rumor, Archie never went to Vietnam. The reason he sings about Vietnam in "A Soldier's Prayer 1967" is because he thought he might be sent there, but was sent to Germany instead).

In either case, this is happy party music that's good for what ails you. In case of depression-break glass and play this!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's About Time, March 16, 2006

By 

Robert Ward - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing (Audio CD)

This is Archie and the Drells' first two albums in their entirety plus bonus cuts. If you are interested in Archie and the Drells then buy this CD and skip the Greatest Hits CD on Rhino.
The linear notes are fantastic, most of them in Archie's own words. When Tighten Up reached #1 in the Spring of 1968 Archie was in a German hospital recovering from injuries suffered in Viet Nam. Lots of great stuff.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars tight collection, February 28, 2005

By 

A customer "mistermaxxx" (usa) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing (Audio CD)

Archie Bell&The Drells were bringing the feel good vibe on these albums. I Can't stop Dancing" has some nice Grooves on it.but everything gets almost overshadowed by "Tighten Up". I Mean that Jam is too tight&Still cold with the Breaking down of each Instrument.Props,Daps,Claps&soul Snaps on this Whole Collection.