Reviews roundup – U.D.O. vs Motown 7’s Volume 2 vs. Frozen Deluxe Edition vs. Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson

Reviews roundup – U.D.O. vs Motown 7’s Volume 2 vs. Frozen Deluxe Edition vs. Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson

U.D.O.
Steelhammer: Live From Moscow
AFM

Hey ho.  Another year, another live album from Udo Dirkschneider and his metal men.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m a big UDO fan.  But this is his fifth live album in the last twelve years.  Add in the seven studio releases and two compilations, and that’s a lot of UDO.

Plus, it’s only three years since “Live From Sofia”, so this isn’t exactly top of my list.  But, as always, they put on a great show of balls to the wall metal, straight out of the eighties.  To be fair, there is a lot from the last “Steelhammer” release, and when they do dip into his (and Accepts) back catalogue, some surprises are plucked out.

So you get the likes of ‘In The Darkness’, ‘Azrael’ and ‘Holy’, alongside some better known tunes.  I’ve only got the music, but it’s out as a DVD/2CD and BluRay, as well as the 2CD.  UDO fans will love it, but it’s probably not the best place to pay your first visit to his world.

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Various Artists
The Motown 7’s Box Volume 2
Universal

And here we are with a second collection of glistening 7″ singles which, amazingly, went unreleased back in the sixties.  It’s actually quite insane to think that some of these were deemed unacceptable at the weekly A&R meeting held with Berry Gordy and his team of songwriters and producers.

But it’s true, and now, nigh on 50 years later, they’re finally available.  Now, I can’t pass comment on the quality or the width, because we live in an odd world where vinyl releases are reviewed as MP3s.  What I can tell you is that there are some absolute peaches here.

The best of the bunch this time are the cuts from Jimmy Ruffin, Gladys Knight and Barbara McNair, but there isn’t a duff track in sight.  And now a message from our sponsors that might interest you if you bought Volume 1.  “For Volume 2 we have made a few changes to the box packaging. We have adapted the label copy insert into a more substantial four page card leaflet. Vinyl will also be manufactured at Optimal to give the authentic push out centre hole of the time. Sleeves will be paper rather than gloss card. The selection of tracks again represent highly sought after vinyl releases compiled by journalist and DJ Richard Searling. Boxes will be limited edition and numbered.”

So what bang are you getting for your bucks.  Deep breath.

Tracklisting

Disc 1
1. Jimmy Ruffin – He Who Picks A Rose
2. Gladys Knight & The Pips – If You Ever Get Your Hands On Love

Disc 2
1. Stevie Wonder – I Want My Baby Back
2. The Contours – Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy (Cellarful Of Motown Version)

Disc 3
1. The Spinners – We’re Gonna Be More Than Friends
2. Kim Weston – You Can Do It

Disc 4
1. Brenda Holloway – We’ll Keep On Rolling
2. The Temptations – Angel Doll (1994 Box Set Version (Mono))

Disc 5
1. Marvin Gaye – My Love For You (1995 The Master Version (Mono))
2. Four Tops – I’m Grateful

Disc 6
1. The Isley Brothers – Sure Is A Lotta Woman (Mono Version)
2. Barbara McNair – I Know Better (Outtake Version)

Disc 7
1. The Velvelettes – That’s A Funny Way (2004 Anthology Version)
2. The Originals – Don’t Stop Now (Album Version)

Enjoy

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Various Artists
Frozen – 2 Disc Deluxe Edition
Walt Disney

The Walt Disney sensation that has taken over the world (well, the American colonies), has got a two disc deluxe edition out there, to try and wheedle more money from people who should know better.

Now the original release had some splendid tunes including the monster smash hit from Idina Menzel, ‘Let It Go ‘.  The less said about the Demi Lovato tune the better, but I would never have expected anything this good from the writer of the lamentable “Book Of Mormon” and “Avenue Q”.  I would heartily recommend avoiding those, but do you need the extra disc here?

Well, no.  Because what you are actuall getting is a disc of demos from the writers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson, which just confirms that you should always hire a good singer to sing your songs.

At twice the price of the original release, just stick to the original.

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HAT FITZ & CARA ROBINSON
Do Tell
Manhaton

And we’re finishing off the day with the welcome arrival of the new album from Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson.

And it’s another good one.  They would both do well as solo performers, but the combination of things that should not work, does just that.  They’re still, basically, a blues duo, but there is more emphasis on ballads this time, something that suits the vocals perfectly.

With some sensitively arranged on a couple of numbers – namely ‘Do Tell’ and ‘Stray Hat’ – helping to turn them into album highlights, it’s a direction they think about for the next offering.  But even when it’s just them, on the likes of ‘Friday Night’ and ‘Sister Sister’, it makes for an engrossing display of roots music.  Highly recommended.

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