Howard Tate: "Get it While You Can" (Verve)

[HWright]

I did a search and it seems that there are some fans on this board of the soul singer Howard Tate, so I thought I'd share a recent discovery...

Ever since 2001 when Howard emerged from obscurity with a new album ("Rediscovered") there has been much talk (on this Board and elsewhere) about Howard's old LPs from the '60's and early '70's. Being a fan of soul music, I became interested. I managed to find CD versions of "Reaction" (Turntable, 1969) and "Howard Tate" (Atlantic, 1972) but discovered that his debut "Get it While You Can" (Verve, 1966), was out of print.

Well, about a month ago, while looking for Muddy Waters' CDs on the net, I came upon an interesting website called Hip-O Select ( http://www.hip-oselect.com/catalogue.asp), selling a limited edition of "Get it While You Can." I ordered one about a week and half ago and it came on Friday. The album is great and I recommend it heartily for any fans of Howard. Here is the website link:

http://www.hip-oselect.com/catalogue_tate.asp

Does anyone know what Hip-O Select is, by the way? Is it owned by Universal or is is an Independent leasing masters owned by Universal?

Also, for those who love Motown, the website also has some interesting Motown rarities:

http://www.hip-oselect.com/cat_motown.asp

[jazzbo]

They do a great job, this company. The Muddy Waters set is FANTASTIC! So are the first two Motowns (I know that the third is/will be too, just haven't heard it!)

[HWright]

They do a great job, this company.  The Muddy Waters set is FANTASTIC!  So are the first two Motowns (I know that the third is/will be too, just haven't heard it!)

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I've been considering getting the Muddy set too. Thanks for the recommendation!

Edited September 6, 2005 by HWright

[jazzbo]

This is great music, and the sound is excellent. Though there aren't a lot of notes, there are page after page of beautifully reproduced photos, some of the best photos of Muddy of this vintage there are (and some fabulous guitars and clothes!)

[Kalo]

Get it While You Can is essential soul music. I've got a previous "unlimited" CD release of this that is OOP now. If you love soul music, then go for this.

What do you think of Tate's recent come-back recordings?

[jazzbo]

Yes, this Tate is very good too. I like it a lot. I like the recent release of his that I have heard, but this Verve from the sixties is. . . well. . . a bit better.

[Harold_Z]

Yes, this Tate is very good too.  I like it a lot.  I like the recent release of his that I have heard, but this Verve from the sixties is. . . well. . . a bit better.

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That's the way I hear it too. The "comeback" recording is very good and they are consciously trying for the sound of the Verve recordings. Some of the horn lines are verbatim from the Verve stuff, but the Verve stuff has that extra something.

[Harold_Z]

To me it sounds like the Verves were recorded "live" in the studio. i.e Tate singing with the band playing as opposed to singing over tracks. The Atlantic (5 years later) defininitely sounds like singing over tracks and I'm not sure about the "comeback" recording, although I suspect he sang over pre recorded tracks.