SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – I LOVE TO SEE YOU STRUT: MORE 60S MOD, R&B, BRIT SOUL AND FREAKBEAT NUGGETS

Various Artists
I Love To See You Strut: More 60s Mod, R&B, Brit Soul and Freakbeat Nuggets
Cherry Red Records

There’s only a handful of labels around that can turn out a practically flawless compilation of various artists celebrating a genre, genres, a particular time of music, or whichever combination of those or other elements you wish. Cherry Red is certainly among those.

Following in the footsteps of their 2020 set Halcyon Days which celebrates the Mod-friendly music that encompassed a good part of the 60s, here comes another three-setter under the not so short title of I Love To See You Strut – More ’60s Mod, R&B, Brit Soul and Freakbeat Nuggets.

Why a certain music style or genre catches fire and where would probably require a detailed, not only musical, but also sociological research. But one element here is inescapable — it has to be good, for listening, dancing or striking some sort of a chord with the listeners.

One fact remains clear though, the music presented on these three discs and 85 tracks not only hit all of the above chords with the listeners then but has a timeless quality to do the same today, six decades on.

Leave it to the experts at Cherry Red, not only to make an impeccable selection, but to arrange it in a certain order or theme. Here, the first CD includes club-based sounds, second presents Mod legends, and the third all the psych leanings developing in the second part of the decade.

With its detailed annotation, inclusion of previously unreleased or rare tracks, this is an all-encompassing set for novices, completists and die-hard fans, all at the same time.

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