S/D Ace records compilations

They also do a good compilation by The Sonics and I believe are also responsible for Big Star's back catalogue (apart from their third album which is on Rykodisc)....

(I think technically these are on an Ace subsidiary)

With a back catalogue like Trojan's, you would assume it to be impossible for them not to turn out material of a very high quality. Experience suggests otherwise. But, yes, they are getting better.

Kent Soul have been really on top of it! It's not all northen soul! The Sound of Memphis label series are excellent when you've exhausted digging Stax records. George Jackson, Barbara & the Browns, and Dan Greer all great southern soul. The Fame records series also really good. Also really loving 'Here Comes The Hurt: Soul Ballards From King, Federal & Deluxe' heartbreaking deep soul. Why don't people talk about ace records and all of their great sub labels? They even have digital downloads now. If they made artsy box sets, they would put numero out of business.

http://https%3A//farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/13314282204_8a6b79945c_z.jpg
http://https%3A//farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/13313908425_147e5452f1_z.jpg

My favorite lately (for quite a while) has been That's Swift: Instrumentals from the Norman Pertty Vaults. Early 60s surf/instro action that's very nicely recorded, and doesn't all sound like "Wipeout."

x-post--- the Yahoo group Southern soul email list is always talking about Kent Soul efforts. I should check them out

They’re hiring!

We're hiring folks! Full details below:

Production Manager – Ace Records

About Ace

Ace Records is one of the leading reissue record companies and produces great-sounding, well-packaged releases. We work with music repertoire experts, designers with a keen eye for the right period look and highly-skilled audio engineers creating CD, vinyl and digital releases each month.

Your role at Ace

Your primary role will be to manage the production of all physical products released on the Ace group of labels.

Requirements

A strong awareness of deadlines, good organisational, administrative and analytical skills and a keen eye for detail are all essential.

An ability and desire to drive deadlines on a regular monthly release schedule.

3-5 years of previous production experience in the music industry, preferably at a record label.

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Basic image editing skills and a knowledge and understanding of the repertoire we release would also be advantageous.

What you’ll be doing:

Participate in scheduling meetings attended by the A&R, licensing, sales, marketing and digital departments to plan an agreed number of newly-originated releases each month.

Work closely with the project compilers, outside designers, mastering studio, manufacturers and Ace’s own departments to organise production parts. Issue regular deadlines, chasers and updates to all.

Processes will include researching and checking label copy, commissioning, editing and proofreading sleeve notes, sourcing and scanning photographs and memorabilia.

Input repertoire in the Ace databases.

Work with designers, giving them clear briefs and all the elements that will be on the product. Check artwork progress at all stages until delivery for printing and secure approvals when necessary.

Organise masters for release, liaising with compilers, licensing partners, mastering studio and manufacturers. Manage the approval of test pressings.

It will be your ultimate responsibility that all parts for manufacture are assembled and release dates are met.

Organise replacement parts for back catalogue items where they have been lost or damaged. Re-originate packages when necessary.

Assist in the origination of digital products.

Please send applications into social AT acerecords DOT com

Deadline: 21st March 2022

Location: Letchworth/ Flexible

Several of theirs in particular I'm curious about, incl. a collection of Penn-Oldham songs mostly unknown to me, recorded by likewise artists. Also a round-up of Dylan covers, mostly (?) 60s UK, I think.
This one is amazing, as I said on the Sweet Soul Music thread:

First listen to Reggie Young's Guitar Session Man has my headphones spinning: so much to take in, so much goodness coming at me from all directions, and would be so even if there weren't 24 tracks on one CD. Most thread-relevant elements noticed so far:
The only Muscle Shoals-recorded track is Little Milton's '02 version of Vince Gill's '90s country hit "Whenever You Come Around," here with a questing soul orchestra, layered and strong as the ones released like hounds in '60s Memphis, on the Box Tops' cover of Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On" and Elvis's run with Percy Mayfield's "Stranger In My Own Hometown."
Most of this is from Memphis, incl. duh Dusty Springfield's performance of Gerry Goffin & Carole King's "Don't Forget About Me," which was on a single w the Fritts-written "Breakfast in Bed."
Fritts' KK bandmate Billy Swan rolls out of Nashville with a fast version of his own "Lover Please," a big late-doo wop hit for Clyde McPhatter :this take is more like what Ringo was doing at his 70s solo peak.
We also get the prime of James Carr, Solomom Burke, Bobby Blue Bland, and many others---my absolute fave rave at the moment is Jackie DeShannon's departure with "I Wanna Roo You," here a fast crashy waltz, mostly (slowing down for the bridge, but it's a set-up, like the mellow verses on "I'm Movin' On), and she's often, though not always, wailing the chorus as "I want to ruin ruin ruin you. Ruin you tonight."

― dow, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 00:06 (two years ago) link

Wow

― Beware of Mr. Blecch, er...what? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 00:07 (two years ago) link

Yeah! And Ace Records annotator Bob Dunham mentions Young's hot solos on the Swan track as prob not the sort of thing released on Nashville product since Mac Gayden's previous work with Area Code 615, which reminds me that this selection is immediately followed by the Gayden-written "Morning Glory," vigorously presented by James & Bobby Purify---they and the Box Tops also did versions of "I'm Your Puppet," right?

― dow, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 00:16 (two years ago) link

Yes. They had the hit on that one.

― Beware of Mr. Blecch, er...what? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 00:18 (two years ago) link

thanks discogs:

Tracklist
1 –Eddie Bond & His Stompers* Slip, Slip, Slippin' In
2 –Bill Black's Combo Carol
3 –Bobby Bland A Touch Of The Blues
4 –Jerry & Reggie* Dream Baby
5 –The Box Tops* I'm Movin' On
6 –Willie Mitchell The Champion - Part 1
7 –Solomon Burke Meet Me In Church
8 –Joe Tex Chicken Crazy
9 –King Curtis & The King Pins* In The Pocket
10 –James Carr More Love
11 –Dusty Springfield Don't Forget About Me
12 –Elvis Presley Stranger In My Own Home Town
13 –Jackie DeShannon I Wanna Roo You
14 –Dobie Gray Drift Away
15 –Sonny Curtis Rock'N Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)
16 –Delbert McClinton Victim Of Life's Circumstances
17 –Billy Swan Lover Please
18 –James & Bobby Purify Morning Glory
19 –J.J. Cale Cocaine
20 –Merle Haggard I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink
21 –Waylon Jennings / Willie Nelson / Johnny Cash / Kris Kristofferson Highwayman
22 –Natalie Merchant Griselda
23 –Little Milton Whenever You Come Around
24 –Waylon Jennings Where Do We Go From Here

― dow, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 00:19 (two years ago) link

The Joe Tex track is not up to several of his hits mentioned in the notes, where Dunham says they would have picked "Skinny Legs and All," but it's already on another Young-inclusive Ace comp,Memphis Boys. Damm it, whiiiine

― dow, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 00:23 (two years ago) link

Recommended:

https://i.discogs.com/73iIAJAP_GcymZ7Eip0ejMOBBJsocrpWVRJ4xBFKyo4/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:469/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWltYWdlcy9SLTEy/NDcwNDg3LTE1MzYx/Njg1OTUtODA4OS5q/cGVn.jpeg

(That's Make Mine Mondo!, a comp of novelty-ish stuff on the L.A. Dore label.)

Great comp, got it a while back.