Various Artists - Jack Ashford Just Productions Vol 2 / Various - COMPACT DISCS [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 tag-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 tag 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.