On a double-CD it’s Chairmen Of The Board’s first two albums, plus solo albums from band members General Johnson and Harrison Kennedy.
Give Me Just A Little More Time features the title song (No 3 in 1970 and a hit again in 1992 for Kylie), You Got Me Dangling On A String and the band’s original version of Clarence Carter’s Patches.
In Session, from 1971, includes Everything’s Tuesday, Pay To The Piper and cover versions of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, Beatles classic Come Together and Sinatra’s My Way.
If I ever become involved in politics, part of my manifesto would be a rule that no-one could ever again record or perform in public, another bloody version of My Way!
The bonus albums included are the rare Hypnotic Music by Harrison Kennedy and Generally Speaking by General Johnson.
Bev Bevan

The infectious product of Holland-Dozier-Holland’s Invictus/Hot Wax set-up was a logical step on from their work at Motown and, in the main, retained a similar timeless quality, so reissues of the label’s product, even if previously available on CD, will no doubt find welcome takers. This time round, the rights have fallen to Demon’s Edsel Records and they kick off with this 2CD set (and another by Freda Payne). CD one combines Chairmen Of The Board’s first album, named after the group’s #8 r&b and #3 pop ‘Billboard’ – #9 r&b ‘Cashbox’ – debut hit, ‘Give Me Just A Little More Time’, with lead-singer and major songwriter, General Johnson’s ‘Generally Speaking’ solo set from a couple of years later, plus three Johnson non-album bonus cuts, while on CD two we have the group’s second album, ‘In Session’, together with the less accessible 1972 set from group member, ‘Harrison Kennedy’, plus an instrumental version of General Johnson’s ‘Only Time Will Tell’. (Incidentally, ‘Come Together’ – a Lennon/McCartney composition hated by yours truly – featured on both the group’s debut set and Kennedy’s ‘Hypnotic Music’ album and was issued as a solo single as by Kennedy. Mercifully it is not duplicated here). ‘GMJALMT’ also carried syrupy versions of ‘Didn’t We’ and ‘My Way’ – with Eddie Custis on lead – plus Dave Mason’s ‘Feelin’ Alright’ (another song I loathe but soulsters seem to like recording for some reason), in addition to home-grown product, which fortunately make up for shortcomings elsewhere, especially the upbeat ‘Bless You’, which would be a later 45 flip-side and, of course ‘Patches’, both credited to the writing team of Ron Dunbar and Normal ‘General’ Johnson. Due no doubt to the single success for Clarence Carter, ‘Patches’ also featured on the group’s ‘In Session’ album (again, not duplicated here), plus the swinging ‘Everything’s Tuesday’ which had preceded the album as a hit 45 (and was also to be on General Johnson’s solo LP… confused?) and the group’s biggest hit single, ‘Pay To The Piper’, #4 r&b ‘Billboard’, #7 ‘Cashbox’. Once again, Custis-fronted M-O-R efforts were included by way of ‘The Twelfth Of Never’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ but ‘In Session’ was the better of the two albums for cementing the group’s sound. Reportedly, General Johnson did not much care for his own set, despite having co-written all sections and he would have to wait four further years (after signing to Arista) for solo chart success. Maybe he was hyper-critical, ‘Every Couple’s Not A Pair’ and ‘I’ll Never Get Tired Of You’, both in their way ‘Patches’-structured ballads and the lively ‘God’s Gift To Man’ certainly appeal in this direction.
David Cole

µµµµ

Highlight of Edsel’s HDH reissues, this 1974 freakout (disowned by singer General Johnson) saw Funkadelic’s rhythm section turn COTB into killer riff disco psych.
AM

In 1969, powerhouse writers/producers Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown, alleging underpayment of royalties, and launched their own Invictus label. They got off to an explosive start with Chairmen Of The Board, a group they put together to showcase the distinctively cracked voice of General Johnson. With songs written by HDH in the guise of Ronald Dunbar and Edith Wayne, they knocked out a string of hits with all the unstoppable momentum and catchy hooks (and not dissimilar sound) of HDH’s old Isley Brothers hits. Give Me Just A Little More Time, You’ve Got Me Dangling On A String, Pay To The Piper and Everything’s Tuesday are all included here, along with the original, superior version of Patches, a worldwide hit for Clarence Carter.
Patches was co-written by the talented General Johnson, who had hits 10 years earlier with The Showmen. On his solo album (also included here), he has a nice line in socially aware lyrics that would give Curtis and Marvin a run for their money. As does Harrison Kennedy, COTB’s “second voice”, whose solo album is also part of this set, along with the first two COTB albums in full. A few misguided covers of rock and showbiz tunes strike a jarring note but, otherwise, this is a value for money, well-annotated collection.
Alan Lewis