Classic Cuts collected on Classic Cuts

New compilations bring together hits & lesser known dance numbers.
Universal are issuing a new set of various artists compilations entitled Classic Cuts.
Although not a direct nod to the Classic MasterCuts series of yore, the premise is largely the same, with a set of four new compilations focusing on certain genres from the wealth of the Universal catalogue on both triple CD and double vinyl sets.
Housed under Disco, 80s Funk, Northern Soul and Funk headings, a majority of the tracks are already very familiar from turns such as Elton John, Barry White, Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye, Kool & The Gang, Marlena Shaw, Commodores, Diana Ross, The Supremes and Sylvester all featured, but there’s also a few nuggets not been seen or heard on a compilation for many years including titles from Sisters Love, A Taste Of Honey, Lamont Dozier, Maze, Cameo, Don Covay and The Undisputed Truth.
Each compilation comes as a double vinyl and single CD and all four editions of Classic Cuts will be released 10 May 2019
CLASSIC CUTS: 80s GROOVE
LP1 – Side A
- Get Down Saturday Night- Oliver Cheatham
- Hangin’ On A String (Contemplating)- Loose Ends
- Love Will Bring Us Back Together Again – Album Version- Roy Ayers
- I’ll Be Good- Rene and Angela
- Let It All Blow – Single Version- Dazz Band
LP1 – Side B
- Twilight- Maze ft. Frankie Beverly
- Outstanding – Album Version- The Gap Band
- Too Hot – Single Version- Kool & The Gang
- Roses Are Red – Radio Edit- Mac Band
- Back And Forth – 7″ Version- Cameo
LP2 – Side A
- All Night Long – Remix Single Version- Mary Jane Girls
- Don’t Look Any Further – Single Version- Dennis Edwards Featuring Siedah Garrett
- Treat Her Like A Lady – Single Version- The Temptations
- Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent- Gwen Guthrie
- Mama Used To Say- Junior
- Don’t Stop The Music- Yarbrough & Peoples
LP2 – Side B
- Sleep Talk- Alyson Williams
- Behind The Groove – Single Version- Teena Marie
- Walking Into Sunshine – Edit- Central Line
- The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) – Remastered Original Version- Level 42
- I Don’t Think That Man Should Sleep Alone- Ray Parker Jr.
Single CD
- Get Down Saturday Night- Oliver Cheatham
- Hangin’ On A String (Contemplating)- Loose Ends
- Love Will Bring Us Back Together Again – Album Version- Roy Ayers
- I’ll Be Good- Rene and Angela
- Let It All Blow – Single Version- Dazz Band
- Twilight- Maze ft. Frankie Beverly
- Outstanding – Album Version- The Gap Band
- Too Hot – Single Version- Kool & The Gang
- Roses Are Red – Radio Edit- Mac Band
- Back And Forth – 7″ Version- Cameo
- All Night Long – Remix Single Version- Mary Jane Girls
- Don’t Look Any Further – Single Version- Dennis Edwards Featuring Siedah Garrett
- Treat Her Like A Lady – Single Version- The Temptations
- Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent- Gwen Guthrie
- Mama Used To Say- Junior
- Don’t Stop The Music- Yarbrough & Peoples
- Sleep Talk- Alyson Williams
- Behind The Groove – Single Version- Teena Marie
- Walking Into Sunshine – Edit- Central Line
- The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) – Remastered Original Version- Level 42
- I Don’t Think That Man Should Sleep Alone- Ray Parker Jr.
CLASSIC CUTS: DISCO
LP1 – Side A
- Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – Single Version- Barry White
- Boogie Oogie Oogie – Single Version 1 / Remastered 2001- A Taste Of Honey
- If I Can’t Have You- Yvonne Elliman
- Love Hangover- Diana Ross
- Get Down On It – Single Version- Kool & The Gang
LP1– Side B
- I’m Here Again- Thelma Houston
- Machine Gun- Commodores
- Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)- The Stylistics
- The Hustle- Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony
- Car Wash – Single Version- Rose Royce
LP2 – Side A
- Philadelphia Freedom – Album Version- Elton John
- Never Can Say Goodbye – Single Version- Gloria Gaynor
- I Need You- Sylvester
- Walking In Rhythm – Album Version- The Blackbyrds
- Love Machine – Pt. 1- The Miracles
LP2 – Side B
- Hang On In There Baby – Single Version- Johnny Bristol
- Contact – Single Version- Edwin Starr
- Funkytown – Single Version- Lipps Inc.
- You Can Do It- Al Hudson And The Partners
- You’re My Driving Wheel – Promo Single Version- The Supremes
- Once You Get Started – Album Version-Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
Single CD
- Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – Single Version- Barry White
- Boogie Oogie Oogie – Single Version 1 / Remastered 2001- A Taste Of Honey
- If I Can’t Have You- Yvonne Elliman
- Love Hangover- Diana Ross
- Get Down On It – Single Version- Kool & The Gang
- I’m Here Again- Thelma Houston
- Machine Gun- Commodores
- Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)- The Stylistics
- The Hustle- Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony
- Car Wash – Single Version- Rose Royce
- Philadelphia Freedom – Album Version- Elton John
- Never Can Say Goodbye – Single Version- Gloria Gaynor
- I Need You- Sylvester
- Walking In Rhythm – Album Version- The Blackbyrds
- Love Machine – Pt. 1- The Miracles
- Hang On In There Baby – Single Version- Johnny Bristol
- Contact – Single Version- Edwin Starr
- Funkytown – Single Version- Lipps Inc.
- You Can Do It- Al Hudson And The Partners
- You’re My Driving Wheel – Promo Single Version- The Supremes
- Once You Get Started – Album Version-Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
CLASSIC CUTS: FUNK & SOUL
LP1 – Side A
- California Soul – Album Version- Marlena Shaw
- Smiling Faces Sometimes – Katalyst Mix- The Undisputed Truth
- Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back)- Maceo And The Macks
- Shake Your Rump To The Funk – Single Version- The Bar-Kays
- Think (About It) – Single Version- Lyn Collins
LP1 – Side B
- I Want’a Do Something Freaky To You- Leon Haywood
- I Like What You Do – Album Version- Commodores
- ABC – Single Version- The Jackson 5
- Think- James Brown
- Hang Out & Hustle – Single Version- Sweet Charles
LP2 – Side A
- Got To Give It Up – Pt.1- Marvin Gaye
- Unwind Yourself – Remix- Marva Whitney
- Jungle Boogie – Album Version- Kool & The Gang
- Hard To Handle- Patti Drew
- Pass The Peas- The J.B.’s
- Shaft In Africa (Addis) – From “Shaft In Africa” Soundtrack- Johnny Pate
LP2 – Side B
- Light My Fire – Album Version- Stevie Wonder
- Brown Baby – Alternate Version- Diana Ross
- Take Off Your Make Up- Lamont Dozier
- Give Me Your Love – Single Version- Sisters Love
- Coffy Is The Color – From The “Coffy” Soundtrack- Roy Ayers Featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater and Wayne Garfield
- Float On – Single Version- The Floaters
Single CD
- California Soul – Album Version- Marlena Shaw
- Smiling Faces Sometimes – Katalyst Mix- The Undisputed Truth
- Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back)- Maceo And The Macks
- Shake Your Rump To The Funk – Single Version- The Bar-Kays
- Think (About It) – Single Version- Lyn Collins
- I Want’a Do Something Freaky To You- Leon Haywood
- I Like What You Do – Album Version- Commodores
- ABC – Single Version- The Jackson 5
- Think- James Brown
- Hang Out & Hustle – Single Version- Sweet Charles
- Got To Give It Up – Pt.1- Marvin Gaye
- Unwind Yourself – Remix- Marva Whitney
- Jungle Boogie – Album Version- Kool & The Gang
- Hard To Handle- Patti Drew
- Pass The Peas- The J.B.’s
- Shaft In Africa (Addis) – From “Shaft In Africa” Soundtrack- Johnny Pate
- Light My Fire – Album Version- Stevie Wonder
- Brown Baby – Alternate Version- Diana Ross
- Take Off Your Make Up- Lamont Dozier
- Give Me Your Love – Single Version- Sisters Love
- Coffy Is The Color – From The “Coffy” Soundtrack- Roy Ayers Featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater and Wayne Garfield
- Float On – Single Version- The Floaters
CLASSIC CUTS: NORTHERN SOUL
LP1 – Side A
- I’m Gonna Love You A Long Time- Patti & The Emblems
- You Got The Love I Need- The Undisputed Truth
- Let’s Wade In The Water- Marlena Shaw
- Seven Day Fool- Etta James
- My Weakness Is You – Single Version- Edwin Starr
- Pow Wow- Manny Corchado
LP1 – Side B
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Stereo Version- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- Sweeter Than The Day Before – Single Version- The Valentinos
- Potion Of Love- The Ambers
- In Orbit- Joy Lovejoy
- It Ain’t No Big Thing- The Radiants
- No One Could Love You More- Gladys Knight & The Pips
- Happy- William Bell
LP2 – Side A
- It’s Better To Have (And Don’t Need)- Don Covay
- Nobody But Me- The Human Beinz
- Moody Woman – Album Version- Jerry Butler
- Suspicion – 1999 Originals Best Of Version- The Originals
- First I Look At The Purse – Stereo Version- The Contours
- Shoes – Single Version- Bobby Bland
LP2 – Side B
- This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It’s Killing Me) – 1994
- Love Starved Heart Version (Mono)- Marvin Gaye
- What Can I Do- George Kirby
- I Surrender- Eddie Holman
- As Long As I Have You- Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters
- Stormy – 2000 Box Set Version- Diana Ross & The Supremes
- All I Do Is Think About You- Tammi Terrell
Single CD
- I’m Gonna Love You A Long Time- Patti & The Emblems
- You Got The Love I Need- The Undisputed Truth
- Let’s Wade In The Water- Marlena Shaw
- Seven Day Fool- Etta James
- My Weakness Is You – Single Version- Edwin Starr
- Pow Wow- Manny Corchado
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Stereo Version- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- Sweeter Than The Day Before – Single Version- The Valentinos
- Potion Of Love- The Ambers
- In Orbit- Joy Lovejoy
- It Ain’t No Big Thing- The Radiants
- No One Could Love You More- Gladys Knight & The Pips
- Happy- William Bell
- It’s Better To Have (And Don’t Need)- Don Covay
- Nobody But Me- The Human Beinz
- Moody Woman – Album Version- Jerry Butler
- Suspicion – 1999 Originals Best Of Version- The Originals
- First I Look At The Purse – Stereo Version- The Contours
- Shoes – Single Version- Bobby Bland
- This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It’s Killing Me) – 1994
- What Can I Do- George Kirby
- I Surrender- Eddie Holman
- As Long As I Have You- Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters
- Stormy – 2000 Box Set Version- Diana Ross & The Supremes
- All I Do Is Think About You- Tammi Terrell
Very much a charity shop find. Can’t imagine the LPs sounding great. K-Tel?
This is long before automated radio stations controlled by the few big media companies, where 95% of stuff listed here was never played in the midwest except Chicago or Milwaukee or Minneapolis. You aren’t going to have huge sales in this kind of stuff if the remixed and longer versions of what we heard isn’t released. Example – Shannon: Let The Music Play (the approx 4:30 single mix). No where to be found except the typical bad sound quality Time-Life disc (Mid-80’s disc of 80’s collection).
Some rare tracks, great albums!
The Classic MasterCuts compilations from Beechwood Music were superb. They had a decent portion of high quality rarer tracks and would go for full length versions where possible.
The recent “101 Disco Classics” budget 5-disc set contains a lot of Disco-Funk classics and makes for an entertaining “playlist”:
https://www.discogs.com/Various-101-Disco-Classics/release/11426130
(but of course I already had a lot of these tunes on numerous Anthologies and Best Of’s…)
I also really enjoy this Club Motown collection which includes many extended remixes of 80s Motown hits and a few rarities:
https://www.discogs.com/John-Morales-Club-Motown/master/725737
Straight to the supermarket is the new music industry equivalent of ‘straight to video’.
These all have some superb tracks on them. A great option for those of us who don’t have them on 7,12, lps etc
Hurry while stocks linger.
Jeez, that must surely be the blandest, most Route One album “artwork” ever. Looks like the thumbnail image you get on a Spotify playlist…is that deliberate in order to hook in people that get their music from those “morning coffee/daily workout” playlists and encourage them to buy a record – or did they just have zero budget for design and artwork so just grabbed a royalty free image and knocked something up on a Windows 98 PC?
Dr. Volume exactly, an immediate no just from the “art”.Right or wrong I always assume if no care is taken with the packaging then shoddiness likely follows through the whole production. It’s really lame. Pass.
Good double cd sets four times cheaper, not sure who they would appeal to.
Spectrum normally do their 3 disc sets at the same price so probably over-priced for the label. Be down to £4.99 in a week or two.
Some
The funk and soul one looks good, all about random,but much more interesting tracks than most budget compilations – the CD price is a steal and given that you could easily pay £20 for just a couple of rare tracks on vinyl I might be tempted by a couple of these. Agree it’s classic mastercuts but without the same understanding of the material,but the music is fine
These would have been better as 3cd sets which Spectrum usually do and was what I expected when they were first on Amazon. Single CDs with cropped versions not gonna work for most of the target market. Shame as although a lot of the tracks are the usual there are some which are not normally on this sort of compilation.
Prefer compilations like these to have the extended versions, especially when disco tracks, so I will not be bothering with any of them.
Ditto. Some good stuff here but I’m not interested in edits.
Got most of the best tracks here on various formats; 7″ , 12″, LPs and CDs so it’s a no from me. Looks like they’ve been compiled by somebody on work experience. You’d be better off tracking down the vastly superior Mastercuts collections that Paul mentions in his intro.
I think it’s Ian Wade on this occasion, poor chap.
we’re not used to having two of you doing the dirty work.