For Dancers Also

by N/A

Overview

Like its earlier sister compilation of sorts (For Dancers Only), For Dancers Also is a grab bag of soul tracks -- 16 in all -- originally issued on the Kent/Modern family of labels in the mid- to late '60s. (And, as with For Dancers Only, no bonus tracks or additional historical liner notes were added when it was reissued on CD about 25 years after its original appearance in the early '80s.) Kent/Modern soul releases, with some exceptions, weren't too commercially successful when first issued, and the label didn't cultivate one of the stronger company identities or rosters among '60s soul labels. Why, then, this devoted base of collectors, particularly in Britain, where the modern-day Kent imprint (administered by Ace Records) is based? In part it's because even the generic Kent/Modern soul sides were well suited for midtempo dancing, which is a big deal among the Northern soul aficionados in the U.K. who collect this stuff. To be honest, though, much of Kent/Modern's soul output was on the generic side, though at least For Dancers Also isn't as heavy on the Motown imitations/derivatives as For Dancers Only. These tracks are pleasantly upbeat period soul, though none of the songs are outstanding, and some are mediocre. In its favor, it has some cuts that have a bluesier edge than most '60s soul, particularly Lowell Fulsom's "Talkin' Woman," the Johnny Otis Show's sly "Country Girl," and Jackie Day's convincingly pained "What Kind of Man Are You?" The strain to emulate Motown is in full force, however, on Mary Love's "Lay This Burden Down," which could almost pass for a Martha & the Vandellas stormer with a different singer. If you want some heavily Impressions-influenced stuff, there's Z.Z. Hill's "You Just Cheat and Lie" and Danny Monday's "Good Taste of Love." And was Booker T. Averhart & the Mustangs' "Take Your Shoes Off, Pt. 1" instrumental a deliberately tongue-in-cheek takeoff on Booker T. & the MG's? ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	08/07/2003
Label:	Ace / Kent
UPC:	0029667200219
Rank:	150913

Tracks

1. Lay This Burden Down  - Mary Love
2. If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time  - Vernon Garrett
3. You Just Cheat & Lie  - Z.Z. Hill
4. Beauty Is Just Skin Deep  -  Sweethearts
5. My Baby Needs Me  - Yvonne Baker
6. Good Taste Of Love  - Danny Monday
7. Can It Be Me  - Mel Williams
8. Wanting You  - Jimmy Bee
9. Take Your Shoes Off Pt. 2  - Booker T. Averhart
10. Hole In The Wall  -  Other Brothers
11. Talkin' Woman  - Lowell Fulson
12. Everybody Needs Love  - Willie Gauff
13. Running Out  - Vernon Garrett
14. Country Girl  -  Otis
15. What Kind Of Man Are You?  - Jackie Day
16. I'm In Your Hands  - Mary Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Other Brothers   Primary Artist
Jackie Day   Primary Artist
Mary Love   Primary Artist
Mel Williams   Primary Artist
The Sweethearts   Primary Artist
Jimmy Bee   Primary Artist
Willie Gauff   Primary Artist
The Johnny Otis Show   Primary Artist
Booker T. Averhart   Primary Artist
Willie Gauff & The Love Brothers   Primary Artist
Lowell Fulson   Primary Artist
Vernon Garrett   Primary Artist
Danny Monday   Primary Artist
Z.Z. Hill   Primary Artist
Yvonne Baker   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Steve Cropper   Composer
Arthur Adams   Composer
Jackie Day   Composer
Ferdinand Washington   Composer
Dottie Peoples   Composer
Johnny Otis   Composer
Hubert Sumlin   Composer
Nickolas Ashford   Composer
Mel Williams   Composer
Toni Wine   Composer
Willie Gauff   Composer
Marc Gordon   Composer
Jools DeVere   Package Design
Steve Venet   Composer
Bill Elgart   Composer
Delmar Evans   Composer
Booker T. Jones   Composer
Millie Jackson   Composer
Nick Robbins   Mastering
Van McCoy   Composer
Frank Wilson   Composer
Lowell Fulson   Composer
Roger Armstrong   Source Material
Valerie Simpson   Composer
Lolly Vegas   Composer
Booker T. Averhart   Composer