The Complete Scepter Singles 1962-1973

DIONNE WARWICKのキャリア初期のヒット曲をまとめた3CDコンピがリリース!!
これまでに5回のグラミー賞ノミネート、数多くのチャートインなど、ブラック・ミュージック及びポップ・ミュージックにおいて多大な功績を残してきたDIONNE WARWICK。今回REAK GONEではDIONNE WARWICKが1962年から1973年の間にSCEPTER RECORDSに残した全シングル(一部ボーナストラックとしてMUSICOR RECORDSからリリースされたものもあり)のA面とB面を収録した決定的な3CDコンピがリリース!ほぼ全てがモノラル・シングル盤のオリジナル・テープからのリマスターという豪華仕様!

The Complete Scepter Singles 1962-1973 falls into place beside The Complete Warner Bros. Singles (1972-1977) with a thorough supply of Dionne Warwicks earliest A-sides and B-sides. (As of 2023, the singers post-Warner 1979-1994 singles for Arista, the third label for which she recorded, had yet to be similarly compiled.) This three-disc anthology was previously issued in 2018 under another title, The Complete 1960s Singles Plus, as part of a PBS pledge drive that coincided with a Warwick special. Its without doubt a necessary and long-overdue wider release -- if limited to 3,000 CD copies -- as it offers an exploration of Warwicks early solo work more satisfying than a straightforward hits anthology. Further, all of the material originally issued in mono mixes are presented as such. Almost all of the A-sides here entered the Hot 100. While none topped the chart, many of them are everlasting pop classics -- "Anyone Who Had a Heart," "Walk On By," "I Say a Little Prayer," and "This Girls in Love with You" account for some of the Top Ten hits among a total of 20 that went Top 40. Like no other team before or after them, Warwick and primary collaborators Burt Bacharach and Hal David combined masterful pop songcraft with impeccably expressive and understated vocal performances. The trios advanced creativity spilled over to the B-sides, many of which are well-chosen album cuts such as the eyelash-batting "Any Old Time of Day," the exquisitely crushing "Walk Little Dolly," and the powerful title theme to the Warwick-starring film Slaves (written by Bobby Scott and Bob Kessler, and produced by Bacharach/David). For good measure, this also includes "Only Love Can Break a Heart" and "If I Ruled the World," Scepter-era recordings the Musicor label paired on a 7" in 1977. ~ Andy Kellman