Jack Ashford Just Productions Vol 2 / Various Jack Ashford Just Productions Vol 2 / Various CD

UK collection. Featuring 11 previously unissued recordings, this second and final volume of Jack Ashford's independent soul productions from 1967 to the mid-70s is an equal to the first well-received compilation. It opens with the now revered original version of Softouch's 'After You Give Your All' by the writer Sandra Richardson. Thanks to DJ Roger Banks' acetate and to Maxine Brown, we have the original Lorraine Chandler version of 'Don't Leave Me Baby', the song she wrote with Jack Ashford which both Maxine and Ray Gant would cover, the latter a notable Dave Godin Deep Soul Treasure. There are beautiful, newly discovered ballads from Billy Sha-Rae and Cecil Norman Jr but one sure to create a minor earthquake among Deep Soul fans is Eddie Parker's 1976 updating of 'Crying Clown'. Parker's overlooked Jay Walking single 'Can't You See (What You're Doing To Me)' sounds great, while label-mates Ray Gant & the Arabian Knights bring on the social comment with 'Air' and 'Don't Save Your Money' - both excellent Ashford songs from the 70s. Talented arranger and writer George Rountree contributed to several Ashford and/or Chandler songs in the first half of the 70s. Their Don Gardener and Baby Washington 45 'Lay A Little Lovin' On Me' was issued, but Brenda Cook's pretty 'Alone Again' debuts here. Back in the 60s, with Pied Piper gone, Jack placed a sultry instrumental workout on the Sir-Rah label which also provided a home for Al Gardner's 'Watch Yourself'. The Four Sonics' bittersweet and catchy 'Easier Said Than Done' was from this late '60s period.

1. After You Give Your All - Sandra Richardson 2. I Can Fly - the Magnificents 3. Say That You Love Me Boy - Softouch 4. Since I Lost My Baby - Perfections 5. Let Me Take Care of Your Heart - Jack Ashford 6. How Long Has It Been Since You Had a Love Affair - Cecil Norman JR 7. Crying Clown - Eddie Parker 8. The Story of My Life - Billy Sha-Rae 9. Don't Leave Me Baby - Lorraine Chandler 10. Don't Let Me Down - Sandra Richardson 11. Don't Save Your Money - Ray Gant ; the Arabian Knights 12. I'm Gone - Billy-Sha-Rae 13. This Ain't Just Another Dance Song - Jack Ashford 14. There Can Be a Better Way (Inst.) - the Sound of New Detroit 15. Easier Said Than Done - Four Sonics 16. I Need a True Love - Eddie Parker 17. Watch Yourself - Al Gardner 18. Air - Ray Gant ; the Arabian Knights 19. Lay a Little Lovin' on Me - Don Gardner ; Baby Washington 20. Can't You See (What You're Doing to Me) - Eddie Parker 21. J.C.'s Grit Gitter - J.C. Heard 22. Alone Again - Brenda Cook 23. Lost Without You - Four Sonics Plus One 24. I Found the One - Billy Sha-Rae