KEY RELEASES - 27.06.09: CATALOGUE REVIEWS.(Sound recording review)

VARIOUS

You Heard Them Here First - Rock's Icons Before They Were Famous (Ace CDCHD 1219)

You Heard Them Here First is never less than a fascinating compilation. David Bowie's spirited R&B debut Liza Jane (recorded as Davie Jones with The King Bees) is light years away from Ziggy et al; Lou Reed's 1962 solo debut Your Love (as Lewis Reed) is a clean-cut track in the style of Freddy Cannon; and Joe Cocker's version of Lennon/McCartney's I'll Cry Instead has none of the vocal idiosyncracies that turned his later version of the same pair's With A Little Help From My Friends into a career-launching chart-topper. Cher is more recognisable, and totally adorable, on the early Spectoresque Dream Baby (as Cherilyn) and The Beefeaters are clearly The Byrds on a nursery slope with Please Let Me Love You. Neil Young, JJ Cale, Harry Nilsson and Gram Parsons also make early appearances.

JACKIE LEE

The Mirwood Records Masters (Kent CDKEND320)

Under his real name of Earl Nelson, Jackie Lee achieved some success as half of the pioneering R&B duo Bob & Earl, but after going solo and adopting the Jackie Lee sobriquet he had just one hit - the dance novelty The Duck. However, this collection proves he deserved to have a more sustained impact. From the opening Do The Temptation Walk to the closing Tin Pan Alley, a bluesy vocal workout that was sadly only ever a `work in progress' and comes to a premature halt after less than a minute - it is a delight. Offering respite from the more uptempo songs, many of which are ...