Mojo Chess Northern Soul - Various Artists - Chess 9830153

1.  Marlene Shaw - Lets Wade In The Water

2.  Mamie Galore - It Ain't Neccesary

3.  The Radiants - Hold On

4.  The Dells - Wear It On Our Face

5.  Denise LaSalle - A Love Reputation

6.  Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe

7.  The Gospel Classics - More Love, Thats What We Need

8.  Fontella Bass - Leave It In The Hands Of Love

9.  Tony Clarke - Landslide

10. The Valentinos - Sweeter Than The Day Before

11. Little Milton - More And More

12. Bobby McClure - Peak Of Love

13. The Dells - Run For Cover

14. Little Milton - You Colored My Blues Bright

15. The Dells - Make Sure

16. Tommy And Cleve - BooGaLoo Baby

17. Terry Callier - Look At Me Now

18. Tony Clarke - The Fugitive Kind

19. The Gems - I Can't Help Myself

20. Ramsay Lewis - Wade In The Water

Produced by: Various

Compiled by Lois Wilson

Year: 2005

Covering the years 1964 to 1972, we have some of the best output from one of the US's best loved record labels, Chess. Mainly mid to uptempo material this album is one that would keep the floor full if played in its entirety. OK, there are two versions of 'Wade In The Water', but I wouldn't have wanted to choose either version to include either (And that before you realise that Big Mamma Thorntons version was also on Chess!) so I think that can be overlooked on this occasion.

I'll not pretend to love every song on here - The Radiants make me want to cringe every time I hear it, and The Gospel Classics 'More Love, Thats What We Need'  reminds me of the worst kind of mid 60s crao, but you can overlook these when you realise that sandwiched between are The Dells excellent 'Wear It On our Face' (Not a Bukake song as someone suggested to me...) and that the sublime Terry Colliers 'Ordinary Joe' is following that, then you know that you have a winning album in your hands.

Complete with a well documented 8 page booklet written by Lois Wilson, this is a CD to pick up should you see a copy.

Stand out track: Got a bit of a tie here - obviously 'Ordinary Joe' is in the running, but then so is the wonderful Marlene Shaws version of 'Wade In The Water', and any of the Dells tracks, but at the end of the day it has to be Tommy and Cleve's 'Boo Ga Loo Baby'

9/10