TWO TIMING BABY- Ember Sixties Pop: Volume 2, 1961-1962 COMP CD

Nice shrink-wrapped slip-case packaging.

The series is complemented by compilations devoted to beat and rock from the Ember vaults. Recordings are mastered from tape, where available, and booklets illustrated with sleeve and label shots.

In 1960, Jeffrey Kruger launched Ember Records as an independent, one of very few in the UK, where the majors held sway. Straight away, the label set about trying to break into the charts with many fine pop releases. The Ember Sixties Pop series compiles the best of those records. “Two Timing Baby” picks up the story from where Say When: Ember Sixties Pop Volume 1 (FVCD044) left off. Carter, Lewis & The Southerners first Ember single ‘Two Timing Baby’/’Will It Happen To Me’ features Joe Meek engineering, Geoff Goddard on piano, Albert Lee on guitar, Chas Hodges on bass and Bobby Graham on drums. The Meek connection continues with Mark Douglas only single: Joe produced ‘It Matters Not’/’Upside Down’ and Tornado Clem Cattini confirms he drums on both tracks. American songwriters Buddy Kaye and Phil Springer penned many hits, including ‘The Next Time’ for Cliff Richard.

They brought several songs to Ember and Grant Tracy was the adaptable vocalist on ‘The Great Matchmaker’/’The Tears Came Rolling Down’ and the follow-up flip ‘Taming Tigers.’ Other beneficiaries of the prolific Kaye and Springer were Johnny Carson (‘Are You Anyone s Girl’/’Teenage Bachelor’ and, again, ‘The Tears Came Rolling Down’) and Sandra Gale (‘Hello Heartache’/’If She s Right For You’) who had been girl singer with the Ray Ellington Quartet, joining Ember when Ellington did. Kruger chose the songs for Lita Roza’s single with the aim of moving her sound towards pop and rock n roll, and she turns in fine performances on ‘Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean)’/’(He s My) Dreamboat,’ aided by a driving band led by Tony Crombie. Brooklyn-born Kerry Adams recorded her single in New York, conducted by future soul giant Jerry Ragovoy.

The Dale Sisters cute harmonies are evident on their second Ember single, ‘Road To Love’/’Secrets.’ Tommy Sanderson’s second Ember 45 combined trad-jazz ‘Ding Dong Rag’ with groovy ‘Piano A Go Go,’ which would have made a great theme for a TV detective show. Many of these original singles are highly collectable (mint copies of Mark Douglas are valued at £75, Carter, Lewis & The Southerners at £50 and Lita Roza at £30). Subsequent volumes will carry the story through to the end of the sixties, with further sought after tracks included.

TRACKLIST

1          –Carter, Lewis & The Southerners*     Two Timing Baby

2          –Carter, Lewis & The Southerners*     Will It Happen To Me      

3          –Mark Douglas (3)            It Matters Not         

4          –Mark Douglas (3)            Upside Down           

5          –Grant Tracy          The Great Matchmaker   

6          –Grant Tracy          The Tears Came Rolling Down

7          –Lita Roza   Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean)       

8          –Lita Roza   (He's My) Dreamboat      

9          –Johnny Carson (4)          Are You Anyone's Girl   

10        –Johnny Carson (4)          Teenage Bachelor

11        –Grant Tracy          The Painted Smile

12        –Grant Tracy          Taming Tigers       

13        –Sandra Gale          Hello Heartbreak  

14        –Sandra Gale          If She's Right For You      

15        –Johnny Carson (4)          One Track Mind    

16        –Johnny Carson (4)          The Tears Came Rolling Down

17        –Kerry Adams        Lonely Christmas  

18        –Kerry Adams        Every Boy Like Me          

19        –The Dale Sisters   Road To Love        

20       –The Dale Sisters   Secrets          

21        –Tommy Sanderson & The Sandmen    Ding Dong Rag      

22       –Tommy Sanderson & The Sandmen    Piano A Go Go