- Format: CD
- Label: Ace
- Genre: Blues, Soul, Funk
The San Francisco Bay Area was not known as a centre for urban soul productions in the 1960s, yet judged on the contents of Hitsville West, the R&B-mad region was just as capable of generating fine sophisticated soul sounds.
An adjunct to our recent Kent collection Moaning, Groaning, Crying, this compilation focuses on the more polished local soul recordings, and in doing so necessarily includes virtually the entire catalogue of the renowned Villa label. The imprint is a legend amongst northern soul fans for the instrumental monster Double Cookin. Recently discovered master tapes turned up not one but two vocal versions of this great stomper. Along with the original track, both are included here. One is the stupendous (Just A Little) Faith & Understanding by the Magicians, which has already become the talk of the northern circuit.
The Magicians are one of west coast souls best kept secrets, judged on excellent singles such Is It All Gone and Love, Lets Try It Again. Their entire recorded output, including some fine unissued sides, is presented on Hitsville West, as well as further gems from the Villa vaults by the Performers, Waves, Ozz & His Sperlings and Troy Dodds.
We also feature a handful of items from the Fantasy subsidiaries Galaxy and Early Bird, from Claude Huey, Sisters Three, Lonnie Hewitt, the Fuller Brothers and Harold Andrews. Last but not least, there are several tracks pertaining to the great Bay Area soul voice of Freddie Hughes: splendid items by his groups the Ballads and Casanova II, My Baby Came Back (the sequel to his airplay hit Send My Baby Back), and the pure class of his third solo single, Hes No Good.
As usual, the package features detailed liner notes based on interviews with many of the participants, and a selection of photos of these rarely-seen artists.
Track listing:
(Just A Little) Faith & Understanding - THE MAGICIANS
We Got To Keep On - THE CASANOVA II
Dance (Holes In Your Soul) - OZ & THE SPERLINGS
Why Would You Blow It - CLAUDE HUEY
I Cant See Your Love (For The Tears In My Eyes) - THE BALLADS
Love, Lets Try It Again - THE MAGICIANS
Times A-Wastin - THE FULLER BROTHERS
Is It Love Baby - THE TANDELS
Youre A Winner - HAROLD ANDREWS
Keep Your Hands Off (My Baby) - THE MAGICIANS
You Can Forget It - SISTERS THREE
Feel Good All Over - CLAUDE HUEY
Is It All Gone? - THE MAGICIANS
Why Did Our Love Go - THE TANDELS
Can You Qualify - OZ & THE SPERLINGS
Why Must You Cry (I Deeply Love You) - THE MAGICIANS
You Gotta Git - LONNIE HEWITT
Trust In Me - THE MAGICIANS
I Cant Jerk - OZ & THE SPERLINGS
Why Do I Do These Foolish Things - THE MAGICIANS
The Earthquake - TROY DODDS
Ill Always Love You - THE PERFORMERS
Where Was I - THE MAGICIANS
Double Cookin - THE CHECKERBOARD SQUARES
