LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

6cd deluxe box Ace is pleased to announce the distribution of Jamie/Guyden's acclaimed Arctic Records box set (for territories outside North America). Arctic was one of Philadelphia's most important early soul labels, retaly influencing the rise of Philly soul. The 12" square box holds six CDs which feature both sides of every single released by the label, plus six 7" 45s featuring previously unissued tracks. The 48-page booklet has a comprehensive track-by-track guide plus new interviews with the label's stars. Founded by WDAS program director/deejay Jimmy Bishop in conjunction with Jamie/Guyden Records in 1964, Arctic Records was one of Philadelphia's most important early soul labels, greatly influencing the subsequent rise of Philly soul. Barbara Mason's classic "Yes, I'm Ready" was the label's biggest seller in 1965; she quickly became Arctic's flagship artist, making a slew of splendid followups as well. Kenny Gamble gained invaluable experience at Arctic, not just as a songwriter and producer but as a smooth-voiced singer. Arctic hosted the Volcanos and the Ambassadors, two of the City of Brotherly Love's finest male vocal groups, and the sexy, sultry Honey & the Bees. Daryl Hall got his start at Arctic as lead tenor with blueeyed soulsters the Temptones; Della Humphrey's debut Arctic single hit when she was barely in her teens. Add vocalists Kenny Hamber, Winfield Parker, and Herb Johnson; inspired one-offs by Cindy Gibson, Dee Dee Barnes, and Billy Floyd, and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in their pre-Teddy days, and what you end up with is an incredibly consistent Philly soul label, from its inaugural girl group issue by the Tiffanys to the stirring Royal Five 45 that closed out Arctic's release schedule. Surely the soul boxed set of the year, The Arctic Records Story contains both sides of every single Arctic pressed up, including many that haven't seen light of day in any format since their original release, spread across six CDs. Three singles on Arctic's short-lived Frantic subsidiary by the Rotations and the Three Strangers are onboard as bonus tracks, bringing the box's total selections to 120 songs. Dyedin- the-wool vinyl aficionados will delight in the half-dozen actual 45s included in this package, both sides of each one freshly unearthed from the Jamie/Guyden vaults. Comprehensive track-by-track liner notes include newly conducted interviews with Arctic's stars, along with full release information and plenty of photos. Arctic Records helped define Philadelphia soul. This box is so cool that it's ice! DISC ONE 1. CHAINS OF LOVE - Kenny Gamble 2. DOCTOR LOVE - The Ambassadors 3. A LADY'S MAN - Volcanos 4. BRAND NEW START - Winfield Parker 5. I DIG YOU BABY - The Ambassadors 6. (PUT A DIME ON) D - 9 7. HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD - Tiffanys 8. CARFARE BACK - Herb Johnson 9. (GIRLS HAVE FEELINGS) JUST LIKE THE BOYS DO - Della Humphrey 10. YES I'M READY - Barbara Mason 11. DON'T LOSE THIS LOVE - Kenny Rossi 12. (PUT A NICKEL ON) D - 9 13. (IT'S AGAINST) THE LAWS OF LOVE - Volcanos 14. (I'LL JUST) KEEP ON SMILIN' - Kenny Gamble 15. AIN'T NO BIG THING (BUT IT'S GROWING) - The Royal Five 16. A CHANGED MAN - The Rotations 17. CATCH HIM, LOVE - Barbara Mason 18. LOVER BOY - The Tiffanys 19. (IT'S AGAINST) THE LAWS OF LOVE (Instrumental) - Volcanos 20. GIRL I LOVE YOU - The Temptones 21. SOUL GROOVE-1 - Teddy And The Fingerpoppers DISC TWO 1. MY OH MY - Billy Floyd 2. CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU - The Ambassadors 3. A.W.O.L. (AWAY WITHOUT LOVE) - The Ambassadors... 4. PEACE OF MIND - The Royal Five 5. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT - Tiffanys 6. LOVE ME - Tiffanys 7. WHISPER YOU LOVE ME BOY - Cindy Gibson 8. AIN'T IT BABY - Kenny Gamble... 9. ANYTHING YOU WANT - Kenny Hamber 10. AIN'T GOT THE LOVE (OF ONE GIRL ON MY MIND) - The Ambassadors 11. DYNAMITE EXPLODED - Honey And The Bees 12. HEARTACHES - The Rotations 13. FAT DADDY - Kenny Gamble... 14. COME TO ME - Barbara Mason 15. SAD, SAD GIRL-Barbara Mason 16. I NEED LOVE-Barbara Mason 17. WHAT CAN A MAN DO-Harold... 18. DO WHAT YOU WANNA' DO-DEE... 19. ANYTHING YOU WANT-Kenny Hamber 20. DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE - 21. (YOU BETTER) GO NOW - Honey And The Bees. THE 45s A. HE'S GOT TO LOVE ME - Barbara Mason B. I'M AT MY BEST WHEN I'M DOWN - The Combo Kings A. I LOVE YOU JUST THE SAME - Winfield Parker B. BABY - Volcanos DISC THREE 1. SOUL GROOVE-2 - Teddy And The Fingerpoppers 2. TOGETHER FOREVER - Honey And The Bees 3. (IF YOU COULD SEE THROUGH) THE EYS OF A BACK MAN - Jimmy Bishop 4. SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE - Honey And The Bees 5. FIND MY BABY-I - The Three Strangers 6. STORM WARNING - Volcanos 7. HELP WANTED - Volcanos 8. IS IT ME? - Barbara Mason 9. SAX ON THE TRACK (I'D RATHER BE LONELY) - Mike and Ike 10. BOBBY, IS MY BABY - Barbara Mason 11. YOU'RE NUMBER ONE - The Volcanos 12. THE BLOOD-I - Lane Relations 13. GOOD-BYE - The Temptones 14. GO AWAY - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 15. SOMETHING GOOD - The Temptones 16. AIN'T GOT NOBODY - Barbara Mason 17. (I CAN FEEL YOUR LOVE) SLIPPING AWAY - Barbara Mason 18. I REALLY LOVE YOU - The Ambassadors 19. YOU BETTER STOP IT - Barbara Mason 20. BABY, DO THAT THING - Honey And The Bees DISC FOUR 1. IT TAKES TWO - Kenny Gamble 2. FALLIN' STAR - Winfield Parker 3. MAKE YOUR MOVE - Volcanos 4. STEP BY STEP - Cindy Gibson 5. GLOOMY DAY - Herb Johnson 6. CLEANING UP HERE - Lane Relations 7. HOW CAN I WIN YOUR LOVE - Light Lunch And The Freeloaders 8. ONE TIME IS FOREVER - Honey And The Bees 9. AIN'T IT BABY (Instrumental) - Kenny Gamble and the Romeos 10. HOW I GOT OVER 1 - Brockington Chorale Ensemble 11. AIN'T GONNA CRY (OVER ONE GIRL) - Kenny Hamber 12. MOVE THIS THING-2 - Mary De Loach 13. YOU CAN DEPEND ON ME - Barbara Mason 14. I'M YOURS AND YOU'RE MINE - Dee Dee Barnes 15. THESE ARMS OF MINE - Kenny Hamber 16. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU - Barbara Mason 17. WHY DO YOU HURT THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU - Honey And The Bees 18. DON'T EVER GO AWAY - Barbara Mason 19. LOVE ADDICT - Honey And The Bees 20. SHAKE THAT THING - Winfield Parker THE 45s A. KEEP HIM - Barbara Mason B. DOWN BY THE SEASHORE - Kenny Gamble And The Floaters A. DOWN BY THE SEASHORE (Instrumental) - Kenny Gamble And The Floaters B. EVERYTHING ON EARTH - Lane Relations DISC FIVE 1. STORM WARNING - The Ambassadors 2. HAPPY GIRL - Barbara Mason 3. MR. CHARLIE 4. LET'S WAIT UNTIL DARK - Della Humphrey 5. THE ROCK - The Combo Kings 6. I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - The Ambassadors 7. GIRLS HAVE FEELINGS TOO - Barbara Mason 8. IF YOU DON'T (LOVE ME, TELL ME SO) - Barbara Mason 9. I'M CONFESSIN' - Honey And The Bees 10. HOW I GOT OVER 2 - Brockington Chorale Ensemble 11. TAKE ME FOR WHAT I AM - Jack And Jill 12. THERE YOU GO AGAIN - Jack And Jill 13. TURN ON YOUR LOVE LIGHT - Kenny Rossi 14. DON'T STOP LOVING ME - Kenny Gamble 15. THE JOKES ON YOU - Kenny Gamble 16. IF I HAD A HAMMER - Lane Relations 17. IN THE DARK - Lane Relations 18. POOR GIRL IN TROUBLE - Barbara Mason 19. HELLO BABY - Barbara Mason 20. THE BLOOD-II - Lane Relations DISC SIX 1. I FEEL THE SPIRIT - Brockington Chorale Ensemble. 2. HE'S THERE - Brockington Chorale Ensemble 3. GAME OF LOVE - Barbara Mason 4. SAY THESE WORDS OF LOVE - The Temptones 5. OH, HOW IT HURTS - Barbara Mason 6. HALF A LOVE - Barbara Mason 7. DON'T MAKE THE GOOD GIRLS GO BAD - Della Humphrey 8. YOUR LOVE IS ALL I NEED - Della Humphrey 9. TIME, MADE YOU CHANGE (YOUR MIND) - Billy Floyd 10. I'M NO GOOD FOR YOU - Barbara Mason 11. DON'T EVER GO AWAY - Barbara Mason 12. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LOVE ME - The Ambassadors 13. TAKE IT EASY (WITH MY HEART) - Barbara Mason 14. YOU NEVER LOVED ME (AT ALL) - Barbara Mason 15. I'LL BE THERE - Honey And The Bees 16. MUSIC (MAKES YOU WANNA DANCE) - The Ambassadors 17. OVER THE TRACKS - Della Humphrey 18. WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW - Della Humphrey 19. FIND MY BABY-II - The Three Strangers THE 45s A. HOW CAN I WIN YOUR LOVE (instrumental) - Light Lunch And The Freeloaders B. DON'T EVER WANT TO LOSE YOUR LOVE - Barbara Mason A. YA YA - Mike And Ike B. MOVE THIS THING-1 - Mary De Loach